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SPECIES OF SHARKS. 73 
obtained from the Mediterranean The first example recorded in 
Australian waters was also caught off Portland in 1886. 6. The Port 
Jackson sharks (Heterodontus phillipi and H. galeatus). These are 
small sharks varying in length from 3 feet 8 in. to2feet9in. ZH. 
galeatus is easily known by its having two prominent ridges helmet- 
like on the top of its head, one being near each eye and slightly 
inclining over it. Victorians call these bull-dog sharks ; they are 
common in Port Phillip, as well as in Port Jackson. Fishermen 
frequently exhibit it in their shops. 7. The carpet shark (Crossorhinus 
barbatus); its length attains 7 feet 10 in. ; its skin is beautifully 
clouded and spotted. The popular name is the wobbigong, so called 
by the natives. It is common near Sydney, Tasmania, South Aus- 
tralia, also in Hobson’s Bay, it is erroneously styled the tiger shark. 
8. The seven-gilled shark (Notidanus indicus) ; its length is 8 feet ; it 
has only one dorsal fin. It is somewhat rare; the Sydney museum 
has one from Broken Bay. It is met with in Jervis Bay and Port 
Jackson. 9. The grey-nurse of the Sydney fishermen (Odontaspis 
taurus) ; its length is about 10 feet. This is a most ferocious shark ; 
it drives shoals of fish before it in terror as it darts along. It will 
occasionally leap partly out of the water at a piece of meat, the oar 
of a boat, a man’s armor leg. Itis found near Tasmania, South 
Australia, and in Port Jackson, being an object of terror to bathers. 
Its teeth are one inch long, and set in three or four rows on the 
under jaw, and two rows on the upper, making a fearful armature 
of spikes which inflicts wounds generally proving fatal. 10. The tiger 
shark (CGaleocerdo rayneri) ; this species is numerous near Sydney ; 
it also frequents the coasts of Japan. It is very ferocious, The 
round parabolic form of the head, the form of the tail, and the 
shape of the teeth, will at once distinguish this species from all 
others known at present in these waters. The colour is bluish-grey 
above, silvery-white below. The Macleay museum, at the Sydney 
University, hasa specimen, It is asea shark; the teeth are in 
eleven rows. The length of the largest obtained for many years, 
was 12 feet, but in 1883 the museum obtained a specimen 18 feet in 
length. 11. The blue pointer (Lamna glauca); the colour of the upper 
half of the body is blue, of the lower white ; the line of demarcation 
between the two colours being distinctly marked, and exactly in 
the middle of the sides. Fishermen know it as the blue pointer ; 
its length at maturity is about 12 feet. Itis found off the coast of 
New South Wales. 

Common Opossum—-Phalangista vulpina. 
Description.— The length of the common opossum is about 18 in., 
that of the tail being 13 in. The fur is long, loose and moderately 
soft; its general colour is grey, the visible portions of the hairs 
being partly black and ;partly white. The fur of the back is of a 
somewhat deeper hue than on the sides, owing toa plentiful inter- 
spersion of long black hairs; the muzzle and the chin are blackish, 
the former is pale near the tip and the naked muffle is of a whitish 
