I am led to believe that this species does occasionally occur with us. It is generally mixed up with the commoner sorts.
Zygæna malleus [Hammer-headed Shark].
A specimen of this strange-looking animal was found dead on the shore about two miles beyond Whitehills in 1861. It was a middling-sized specimen, measuring about five feet in length and about eighteen inches across the head. It had lain some time, for the skin was blackish, and had the appearance of charred or burnt leather.
Lamna cornubica [Porbeagle].
It is now well known that the Porbeagle finds his way here occasionally, and usually about the herring season. There is a very fine specimen in our Museum.
Alopias vulpes [The Fox Shark].
So far as I have been able to learn, this shark appears to be very rarely met with here. It has, however, been found.
Notidanus griseus [Brown or Mediterranean Shark].
A large specimen of this shark was taken in the Firth here, and brought on shore at Whitehills in December 1857. After being exhibited in Banff by the fishermen, its captors, as an unknown monster, it was bought for the Banff Museum, where it now is. This shark is the first known to have been found in the British seas.
Raia miraletus [Homelyan Ray]. Occasionally met with.