103 



ST A Ml Y RAY. 



liaia raU'iLh Fi-f,mtjjg; Br. Anininls, p. 170. 



DuNOVAN; Plate 114. 

 " ' YAiiitELf.; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 585. 



" ' Jii.Ni.NS; Manual, p. 617. 



In the writings of the older authors on Natural History, several 

 species of Rays are mentioned as having the skin covered with 

 spines or prickles, as well below as above; but most of them 

 are described so imperfectly, that it has not been possible to 

 distinguish them generally one from another, or to know whether 

 they are more than accidental varieties. There can be little 

 doubt that the fish now known as the Starry Ray is one of 

 these uncertain kinds; but in our references we must be content 

 to confine our notice to writers of a late date; among whom 

 Donovan is to be distinguished for his figure, and Fleming, 

 Jenyns, and Yarrell for the description. The likeness given 

 by Donovan appears to have been drawn from a newly-caught 

 example, and is to be viewed as highly characteristic, Mr. 

 Yarrell's figure is from a dried skin, which I remember to have 

 seen in that gentleman's possession; and it is the only one which 

 I have had an opportunity of inspecting; for this fish is a 

 native of the more northern parts of the British Islands, and 

 has not been found in the south or west. In its shape it closely 

 resembles the Common Thornback, but it is to be distinguished 

 from it by the form of the spines, especially of their base; and 

 in some measure also by the teeth, which are more sharp. In 

 the Thornback the hooked spines arise from a rounn and solid 

 base implanted in the skin; but in the present species the base 

 is formed of spreading rays. In the absence of a specimen we 

 copy the plate of Donovan, No. 114. The habits of this species, 

 as differing from those of its family it so much resembles, appear 

 not to have been observed. 



