135 



MYLIOBATIS. 



The liead projecting beyond the attachment of the pectoral fins; the 

 latter spi'eading wider than in other kinds of Rays. Jaws with broad 

 flat teeth. Tail long and slender, bearing a single dorsal fin, and armed 

 with a spine. 



EAGLE BAY. 



TOAD-FISH. SEA EAGLE. 



It was called the Eagle in ancient times, because of its- widely-spread 

 pectoral fins resembling wings, and its great magnitude when of full 

 size; its weight being supposed to amount to several hundred pounds. 

 It was also named Toad-fish from the appearance of its head, which 

 slopes considerably, and its protuberant eyes on the sides of the head; 

 conveying, therefore, the impression of the aspect of that reptile. 



Myliobatis abulia, Jonston; p. 30, tab. 9, f. 9. 



" Willoughbt; p. 64, tab. c. 2. 



" Lowe; Fishes of Madeira, tab. 15. 



" Jejjyns; Manual, p. 519. 



" Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 591. 



" Cuvier. 



Baia aquila, Linnjeus. 



Baie aigle, Lacepede and Risso. 



It has been the general opinion of naturalists that this fish 

 produces its young alive; but in the year 1845, Charles William 

 Peach, Esq., then living at Fowey, in Cornwall, obtained from 

 the master of a trawl vessel belonging to that port, a large and 

 very curious purse that had been dredged up in his trawl, 

 and presented it with its contents to me, and from which was 

 extracted an undoubted example of the partially developed young 

 of the Eagle Ray. This purse is described below, and the 

 embryo within it appeared to be about half developed, with 



