VOL. XI, PP. 231-234 SEPTEMBER 17, 1897 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



DIAGNOSES OF NEW SPECIES OF FISHES FOUND IN 

 BERING SEA. 



BY THEO. GILL AND CHAS. H. TOWNSEND. 



In 1895 the junior author served as naturalist on the U. S. 

 Fish Commission steamer Albatross and obtained many fishes at 

 various depths. Among them were 14 species apparently hith 

 erto undescribed. Diagnoses of these are here given by permis 

 sion of Captain John J. Brice, U. S. Commissioner of Fish and 

 Fisheries, and will hereafter be described at length and illus 

 trated. 



RAIID.E. 



Raia rosispinis. 



Snout moderately produced, with a soft, moderately narrow rostral car 

 tilage and a blunt tip. Interorbital space nearly plane. Snout with a 

 number of plates having stellate bases about middle, and many smaller 

 asperities, leaving only the borders of the pectorals and ventrals naked. 

 Larger spines with stellate bases are interspersed between the disk and 

 the pectoral rays. A row r of about 26 thorn-like spines, with radiating 

 ridges, extends from the interhumeral area to the dorsal fins ; two spines 

 on each shoulder. One spine above antocular region, another above post- 

 ocular region, and another behind it about half the distance. 



Raia obtusa. 



Snout not at all produced, but very bluntly rounded. Interorbital space 

 narrow. Mouth small, rectilinear. Minute distant prickles on the snout, 

 the anterior portion of disk and interorbital area, as well as in a broad 

 median band extending on tail to dorsal and commencing at the inter- 

 humeral area ; a row of scarcely enlarged acute spines above the eye ; an 

 uninterrupted row of unguiform spines with smoth bases extending from 

 the interhumeral area to dorsal fin; two similar spines arm each shoulder. 



54 BIOL. Soc. WASH., VOL. XI, 1897 (231) 



