20. RAIID^E EAIA. 43 



anteriorly, but growing larger backward. Females (as in other species) 

 with lateral series of spines on the tail. Upper surface mostly covered 

 with minute prickles, which are largest on the median line of the back, 

 on the tail, and the front of the pectorals. Disk smooth below, except 

 anteriorly. Teeth about ff, the jaws rather strongly arched. Disk 

 one-fifth broader than long, its width twice the length of the tail. 

 Snout 3 in length of disk, 2| interorbital width. Color brown, with a. 

 dark ring at base of pectorals. Upper surface everywhere with round 

 pale spots. The largest of our skates, reaching a length of over six feet. 

 The egg-case nearly a foot long. Abundant on the Pacific coast from 

 Monterey to Sitka. 



(Girard, U. S. Pac. R. R. Exp. Fish. 372; Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus- 



1880,135.) 



55. R. rhiiia Jor. & Gilb. 



Disk broad, the outer pectoral angle sharp, farther forward than in 

 R. cooperi. Anterior outline of pectoral somewhat undulated and ex- 

 ceedingly concave, so that the snout is very long, acuminate, and taper- 

 ing to the extreme point. Interorbital space quite narrow r , little con- 

 cave. Supraocular ridges slightly elevated. Eyes large, much longer 

 than spiracles. Spines on body comparatively strong; five to seven 

 above the eyes ; two or three near the middle of the back ; none on 

 the median line of the back until opposite the posterior end of ventrals, 

 where a series of rather sharp spines begins. Prickles on body above 

 rather large, sharp, strongly stellate; those on the snout largest and 

 most stellate. Skin above everywhere prickly in the female ; the 

 prickles small and sparse on the base and edges of the pectorals and on 

 ventrals ; larger on the median region of the disk. Male with bases of 

 fins smooth, and the prickles generally fewer and smaller; anterior 

 edge of pectoral with spines. Under side of disk almost everywhere 

 prickly in the females, smooth posteriorly in the males. Mouth some- 

 what arched. Teeth |. Color light brown, nearly plain, with a dark 

 ring at base of pectorals, which grows obscure with age. Disk one- 

 tenth broader than long, its breadth twice the length of the tail. Snout 

 nearly one-third the length of the disk, 3f times the iuterorbital width. 

 L. 2 feet. Monterey to Puget's Sound ; not rare. 



( Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S.Nat.Mus. 1880, .) 



56. R. bimoctllafa Girard. Common Skate (of California;. 



Disk broad, its widest part well forward ; outer angle of pectoral 

 blunt ; posterior edge convex ; anterior margin of pectoral undulated, not 



