IU 



CUCKOO RAY. 



Raia miraletus, Nobis. 



This well-marked species has been overlooked or mistaken 

 by many naturalists, in consequence of its having been char- 

 acterized chiefly by a mark which, more obscurely, is often 

 shared by other kinds of Rays, to which it has given a dis- 

 tinguishing name; and the mark itself having thus been found 

 to lead to mistake, the conclusion has been rashly adopted 

 that it is of no use as a distinction; and that the fish which 

 most commonly and conspicuously is adorned by it, is furnished 

 with no other character to constitute it a distinct species. It 

 is on account of this that I shall describe the kind of Ray 

 known to fishermen as the Cuckoo Ray, at greater length 

 than I should otherwise do, and particularly in reference to 

 the species called the Shagreen Ray, and another, named 

 by Mr. Yarrell the Sandy Ray, with either of which it may 

 be confounded, and from the latter of which especially it is 

 necessary to distinguish it. 



The length of an example of the ordinary size, selected 

 for description, was twenty inches, of which the tail measured 

 twelve inches, and the breadth across the disk fifteen inches. 

 The teeth very numerous, crowded, sharp, and hooked. The 

 anterior outline of the disk waved; the snout moderately 

 projecting; eyes remarkably prominent. Surface of the disk 

 covered with fine, thin, hooked prickles. The tail stout at 

 its origin, tapering posteriorly, with two fins near its end. 

 Spines on the snout, a row round each eye, and four short 

 rows behind the spiracles; two rows begin high on the back 

 and run along the middle of the tail, with a depressed or 

 channeled space between them: five rows in all run along 



