The Natural Hiftory of JAMAICA. | 
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the Tail where there isa Hollow or Cavity made to receive them like 
a Sheath, that they may fwim with lefs Impediment, and only ule 
them on Occafion. 
>Tis commonly thought this long Tail is ufeful to the Fifh as an 
offenfive or defenfive Weapon, wherewith it may lafh any thing of. 
fending it. Or toturn round their Prey to ftrike them the better. Pi/o, 
p 294 ed. 1658. 
They are tobe found every where in fhallow Waters, where I was in- 
form’d they feed on Herbs, Fact, or Grafs. 
They are eatable ; the Stings are cut off as foon as they are taken, left 
they fhould.hurc unwary People. 
IV. Paflinaca marina, ferruginea, tuberculata, torpedinis facie. Tab. 246. 
Fig. 1. Arereba Brafiltenfibus Rate fpectes, Marcgr. ed. 1648. p.175. Pif. 
ed. 1658. p. 293. Atereba Brafilienfibus, Paftinace fpecies circinata, Marcgr. 
Ray, p. 68. Tab. C. 1. Fig. 2. Syn, p. 25. An Amaya curub of an Anonymus 
Portagal of Brafile, lib. 7. cap. t+ p. 1314, 4p. Purchas. 
The S ting-Ray. 
This had the Appearance of a Torpedg, and was almolt round, of 
about four Inches Diameter, about half an Inch from the fore Parc 
above were the grey Eyes, and behind them were two roundifh Holes, 
as in others of this Kind, it had feveral Afperities on the Skin, and was 
of a brown Colour with yellow Spots here and there, the Tail was three 
Inches long, tapering, and fet with little Afperities. Abouc an Inch from 
the Fin, at the End of the Tail, was the Sting, about half an Inch long 
and like thofe of the former ; befides the Fia that was round theBody, there 
weretwo at the Beginning of the Tail, and likewife Appendices, fuch as 
are ufual in this Kind; the Eyes were prominent, and the Back pretty 
figh, the Belly white, and the Mouth wasas others of this Kind. 
ic wasto be found with the former. 
It is Poyfonous and cured with Mangae as the former, or the Oil 
ofthe Fruit of the Palm Urucuri. Pifon. 
This feems to be exadtly the fame with Marcgrave’s only differing 
in Age. oe 
Ans of the Caribes are fome of them headed with the poifon'd 
Sting ofthe Tail of a Stimg-Ray. Smith's Ubff. p. 52. & 58. 
V. Raia Salvian. p.149. Raia proprie ditta. Bellon, p.79. Rata Clavata 
Rondeletij. p.353.C sliorum. Raij, p.74. Tab. D. 2. Fig. 3. Syn. p. 26. Repe- 
vuntur hic Rate, quarum caude tres Cr femis pedes longa, craffe in initio 
tres digitos & in Jine plane acuminata, plena tuberculis nigricantis in totum 
coloris, flexiles ut [cutica, Marcgr.ed. 1648. p. 175. 
The Thornback. 
Thefe are found about this Ifland, for their Prickles are “A often 
thrown up on the Shore, of which I have feveral feemingly not differing 
from che Prickles of the European Thornback. 
VI. Paffer lineis tran{verfis notatus. Tab. 246. Fig. 2. Ratj Syn. p.157. A 
Soles of Brafile. of an Anonymas Portugal ap, Parchas, lib. 7. cap. 1. 
Aaaa The 
