DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 29 



Angles of the disk more acute than in the other North American Eaiasj muzzle much 

 produced. Spines of the body few and small, some present above the eyes and spiracles, on 

 the snout, along the anterior border of the pectorals, and on the hack (very small!. Median 

 dorsal row of larger h>» >ked spines extending along the posterior portion of the back and 

 the tail. Usually two lateral rows mi I lie tail. Female rougher. < -olor variable, brownish, 

 with paler spots, usually ringed with darker. 



Specimens of a large skate, apparently of this species. Lave been taken below the LOO- 

 fathom line by the Fish Hawk and Albatross, and also by the fishermen. 



RAIA GRANULATA, (Jill. (Figure30.) 



Rata granulata, Gill MS. — Goode and Beak, Bull. Essex Institute, xi, 1879, 28. — Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. A., 

 1885, 11. — GOnther, Challenger Report, \\n, 10, 



"A remarkable species with back and ventral surface covered with minute sharp granular 

 ossifications, obtained by Gapt. Joseph W. Collins on Le Have Bank. A species of the same 

 type as K. Icevis, and having 30-31 teeth on each side; the back granulated and slate col- 

 ored; the. ventrals distinguished by reticulate markings, and the claspers slender and 

 scarcely expanded." 



This form is closely allied to if not identical with 1\. Icevis. 



RAIA BATIS, Linn i:i s. 



i;,ijii batis, Linnets. Syst. Nat., \. 1. I7:>s. 231.— GOnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus.. viu, 1875, 463. — Strom, 

 Norsk. Vidensk. Selsk. Skrift., 1881, NO; 1884, 46.— Collett, Nyt Mag. f. Xaturvid., xvm, 1884, 119. 



The "common skate" of Europe, which is generally found near the coast in rather shal- 

 low water, has been observed on the Norwegian coast to descend to L50 fathoms. It is very 

 similar to the North American Uaia Icevis. 



RAIA FUIXONICA, Linnets. 



Bo/a fuXlonica, Linn eus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, 1758, 231. — GOnther, Cat Fish. Brit. Mus., \ in, 467. — Coi.lett, 

 Forhandl. Vidensk. Selsk. Christ., 1880, 106; Nyt Mag. 1'. Xaturvid.. XV II, 1884, 119.— Vaiilani, Travail- 

 leur et Talisman, Poissons, 1888, 7!». pi. iv, tigs. 1, la. — Giglioli, Eleneo, 1883, 114. 



This form, the " Shagreen Ray" of English writers, is reported by Collett to occur locally 

 on the Norwegian coast at depths of from 80 to 250 fathoms, and also taken by the Travail- 

 leur, in L882, at 634 meters, off the entrance to the .Mediterranean. It occurs also in the 

 Mediterranean, especially off Sicily. 



RATA VOMER, Fries. 



Raja vomer, Collett, Forhandl. Vidensk. Selsk. Christ., 1880, 106; Nyt Mag. f. Natnrvid., 1884, xvm, 119.— 

 Strom, /"•'. eit., 1881, 81; 1884,46. — UOntiieh, Challenger Report, xxn, 11. 



liaia vomer is found on the Norwegian coast at greater depths than the common skate, 

 not rare at a depth of Til fathoms, ami descending to, or even beyond, 150 fathoms. 



RAIA NIDROSIENSIS, Collett. 



Raja nidrosiensis, i Iollett, Forhandl. Vidensk. Selsk. Christ.. 1SSJ, No. 7. 2, c. tab. ; \\ t Mag. I'. Xaturvid., 

 xvm. 1884, 121.— Strom, Norsk. Vidensk. Selsk. Skrift.. 1881, 80; 1884, 17.— GONTHER, Challenger 

 Report, xxn. 11. 



"Snout long and pointed; the width of the interorbital space is contained about four times 

 and one-half in the length of the snout. Body above smooth, rough only on the snout ami 

 the upper margin of the eye, in some old specimens also along the front margin of t he disk ; 

 the body below thickly covered with minute asperities. No larger spines on the disk. The 

 tail in the males with a median series (containing about forty spines), but none on the sides; 

 the old females with three series, the median series containing a. varying number of spines, 



