HOMELYN RAY. 57-- 



rous small spines about the nose, and some extending along 

 part of the anterior edge of the pectoral fins ; two or three 

 prominent spines before and behind each eye, with rough 

 granulations on the surface of the skin before and between 

 them : the more conspicuous characters that distinguish the 

 males have been already noticed. The eyes and temporal 

 orifices are large : the central row of dorsal spines commence 

 above the middle of the body, with one strong spine on each 

 side of it about the middle of the body and in the line of its 

 greatest diameter : the series of spines on the dorsal ridge 

 extend along the centre of the tail, with a row along each 

 side of it in adult specimens ; in young examples the series 

 on each side is not complete. On the tail are two small fins, 

 with two spines between ; the points of all the spines on the 

 central line and on the tail directed backwards. 



The colour of the upper surface is a pale yellowish or 

 reddish brown, with spots of darker brown, subject to the 

 variations that have been already pointed out ; the colour of 

 the under surface plain white ; the skin smooth ; nostrils and 

 mouth near the end of the nose ; the mouth transverse, rather 

 small. Montagu says, both sexes of the maculata have sharp 

 teeth ; but this refers to examples that are perfectly adult : 

 young males of small size, and females when larger, have the 

 teeth blunt; in old males, and very probably also in old 

 females, from the operation of those laws which influence the 

 secondary sexual characters, the teeth become pointed. 



The term Sand Ray is in some localities applied to the 

 males of this Skate, but that name belongs to the next spe- 

 cies. 



