SMALL-EYED RAY. 



561) 



Such is the description Mr. Couch gives of his specimen, 

 which was a female, and which was taken by a line on the 28th 

 of January 1835. In it numerous eggs were found, some of 

 which had attained their full growth ; a circumstance which 

 fixes the period for the production of the young in this 

 species. Mr. Couch writes me word that he has since ob- 

 tained a second specimen, and Mr. M'Coy has described one 

 in the 6th volume of the Annals of Natural History, that 

 was taken in Dublin Bay, p. 407. 



Montagu says both his examples were females, resembling 

 his R. maculata in form ; Mr. Couch refers to the Thornback 

 for shape : the figure here given is taken from Mr. Couch's 

 drawing, and it will be observed that all three have consi- 

 derable similarity of outline. A few extracts from Monta- 

 gu's description will exhibit further resemblance. The pro- 

 portions by measurement are very nearly alike ; the upper 

 surface pale brown, with a few scattered spots and lines of a 

 lighter colour on the margins of the wings ; the skin covered 

 with minute spines, which make it feel rough : the eyes 

 remarkably small, at once pointing out a material distinction ; 

 those of the specimen described did not exceed half an inch 

 in diameter from the opposite angles of the eyelids ; whereas 

 the R. maculata, and most others of similar size, have eyes 

 nearly double that diameter : one row of small hooked spines 

 on the tail, continuing along the dorsal ridge to the head. 

 Colonel Montagu's specimens being younger than that ob- 

 tained and described by Mr. Couch, had not acquired the 

 lateral marginal rows of spines on the tail ; the under part 

 smooth and white ; the teeth obtusely cuneiform, with a 

 broad edge that felt rough to the finger as it was withdrawn 

 from the mouth. 



