107 



PAINTED RAY. 



SMALL-EYED RAY. 



Raia microcellata, Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 171. 



Jenyns ; Manual, p. 515. 

 Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 567. 

 Gray; Catalogue Br. Museum, p. 109. 



The length of a specimen was thirty-three inches and a 

 half, of which the tail measured thirteen; breadth twenty-four 

 inches. The eyes three inches asunder, and five and a half 

 from the snout. In general form it resembles the Thornback. 

 Along the tail is a border on each side, like a membranous 

 fin; the two fins separate, the hindmost an inch from the end. 

 Eyes very small, spiracles large. The body covered with 

 rough grains, but without spines, except that a row runs 

 along two thirds of the length of the back, and on the 

 middle of the tail to the fins; an irregular row of hooked 

 spines along each side of the tail. Nostrils with a prominent 

 expanded membrane. Width of the mouth three inches; teeth 

 flat, like those of the Thornback. 



There is much beauty in the distribution of the colour. The 

 upper surface is a light grey, with a line of lighter colour 

 from the back along the tail, enclosing the central row of 

 spines; and the disk is regularly divided, first by three lines 

 enclosing each other, passing from near the eye circularly to 

 near the expansion of the pectoral fins, with the convexity inward, 

 and consequently the shortest line nearest the border. On the 

 hindward border of the pectorals are two other lines, which pass 

 from behind the expansion circularly to the neighbourhood of 

 the abdominal fins, the convexity also being inwards. Within 

 these segments are several brown spots and streaks, and a 

 few. whitish spots, answering to each other on both sides; and 



