596 RAIID.E. 



" Cephaloptcra, Dumeril. A fish of this singular genus, 

 taken about five years ago on the southern coast of Ireland, 

 and thence sent to the Royal Society of Dublin, is at pre- 

 sent preserved in their museum. In breadth it is about 

 forty-five inches. The specimen being imperfect, and the 

 characters of some of the species being ill-defined, I hesitate 

 applying to it a specific name. It somewhat resembles the 

 Cephaloptera giorna as figured by M. Risso." 



It is most probable that it is this fish, since the C. giorna 

 is the only species of the genus as yet known to exist in the 

 European seas. I am aware that M. Risso considers that 

 he has found a second species in the vicinity of Nice ; but 

 several good authorities believe that his examples of Cepha- 

 loptera Massena are only old and large specimens of Cepha- 

 loptera giorna. 



The Horned Ray, differing greatly in size, appears to have 

 come often under the observation of M. Risso at Nice ; and 

 the following remarks, in reference to its Natural History, 

 are derived from his published works. 



This fish approaches the shore, and is most frequently 

 taken in the month of July. From their horned appearance, 

 small ones are called vachetta, young cow ; the larger ones 

 vacha. When found in pairs, the males appear to have a 

 strong attachment to the females. M. Risso relates that a 



O 



female was taken in one of the divisions or chambers of a net 

 arranged to catch Tunnies : the male constantly remained in 

 the vicinity for two days, from time to time approaching and 

 wandering round the net, as if in search of the female. Two 

 days afterwards he was found dead in the same division of the 

 net which had proved the fatal prison of his companion. 

 The young come forth in September, having been previously 

 deposited by the mother in long yellowish eggs. Their food 

 consists principally of cephalapods and fishes. Their liver is 

 large, and produces abundance of oil ; their stomach and in- 



