106 



SPOTTED RAY 



the smaller spines, but not the larger, having a radiated base. 

 It was a female; the teeth flat, as in the Thornback, each tooth 

 being an exact square, with an angulated corner. This would 

 be the Raia rubus of authors; but it appeared to me to be 

 only a variety of the Spotted Ray. 



The Spotted Ray exceeds the Thornback in weight when of 

 the same size; and one of these fishes is equally common, and 

 by fishermen equally valued, as the other. But the Spotted 

 Ray usually is found nearer the shore, and its purses are shed 

 in such shallow water, as to be often thrown on shore, with 

 their precious burthen within them by the storms of winter. 

 The purse is smaller than that of the Thornback, although the 

 parent fish is of somewhat larger size; and I have obtained the 

 young from the purse from November to January, the length 

 at that time being about five inches, of which the tail was 

 two inches and three eighths; the breadth three inches; with 

 the spines even then developed. 



^Vw.. I'"'' 



Nostrils of young Spotted Kay. 



