172 FISHES. CHONDROPT. Rata. 



dark brown ; beneath, dusky grey, with dark spots. Snout conical. Teeth 

 sharp, with a broad base. 



25. R. aspera. Shagreen Ray. — Skin rough. Ridge of the 

 tail destitute of spines ; those in the row on each side projectino- 

 outwards and recurved. 



Will. Ich. 78 — Shagreen Ray, Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 87 R. chagrinea, 



Mwit. Wern. Mem. ii. 420. "tab. xxi — E, White horse, Duncow, French 

 Ray. — On the English coast. 



Length about 3 feet. Snout long, spinous. Colour, above, cinereous- 

 brown with black spots; beneath, white. The whole upper surface very 

 rough. Spines near the eyes. A short row of spines on the dorsal ridge, 

 immediately behind the eyes. 



26. R. oculata. Mirror Ray. — Skin smooth above and be- 

 low, except on the margin of the pectorals. Three rows of 

 spines on the tail, the mesial one reaching a short way up the 

 back. 



R. lsevis oculata, Will. Ich. 72. — R. miraletus, Don. Brit. Fishes, tab. 

 ciii. — On the English coast. 



Length about 10 inches. In form resembling the skate. Aculeated near 

 the eyes. A large ocellated spot on the pectorals. Colour, above, brown, 

 with distant large dark spots. Montagu included this species and R rubus 

 under the title R. maculata. 



**** 



27- R. marginata. Bordered Ray. — Belly white, surround- 

 ed with a black margin, except at the head. 



La Raie bordee, Lacepede, Hist. Poiss. v. GG3, t. xx. f. 2. Liverpool and 

 Brighton, Noel. 



This species, of which a description was communicated by M. Noel to the 

 ichthyologist quoted, seems to be of a small size. The snout is pointed and 

 translucent. Skin of the back yellow. Three rows of spines on the tail. A 

 spine behind each eye ; a single dorsal fin on the tail, and a caudal fin. 



28. R. Cuvieri. Cuvierian Ray. — The first dorsal fin on the 



middle of the back. 



Lacepede^ Hist. Poiss. i. tab. vii. f. 1. Weill, Wern. Mem. i. 554. 



Snout pointed. Tail slender, armed with three rows of spines, the middle 

 one reaching to the fin on the back. This fin is longer than broad, suboval, 

 and contracted at the base. Teeth blunt. This species was first procured from 

 the Seine by Baron Cuvier in 1792, who communicated a drawing and descrip- 

 tion of it to Lacepede. It has once occurred on the Scottish coast in the 

 Frith of Forth in 1808, according to Mr Neill, who examined a putrescent 

 specimen, which had been detected among a cargo of thornbacks, and who has 

 since presented to me the remarkable dorsal fin, the only portion which was 

 preserved. 



Gen. XVI. CHIMERA. Rabbit-Fish.— Snout conical. 

 Two broad incisors in each jaw. 



29- C. monstrosa. — Colour silvery-white, marbled with 

 brown. 



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