Gudgei — Notes on Some Beaufort, \\ C, Fishes. 153 



In July, lOOit, lie saw one leap three times at a distance of less than lL'O 

 yards from his boat. He estimated its width at between 20 and :*><• feet, 

 and the distance between the horns at 3-5 feet. This could hardly have 

 been anything else than the great ray above named. 



Smith ( l!ii>7) says that it has been seen a number of times by fishermen 

 at Cape Lookout. It is recorded among North Carolina fishes by several 

 authors but has, it is believed, been seen only by the first of these, John 

 Lawson ( 1714), whose interesting description is worthy of quotation here. 

 " The Divel Fish lies at some of our Inlets, and, as near as I can describe 

 him, is shaped like a Scate, or Stingray; only he has on his head a pair 

 of very thick strong Horns, and is of a monstrous Size and Strength; for 

 this Fish has been known to weigh a Sloop's anchor, and run with the 

 vessel a league or two and bring her back against the Tide, to almost the 

 same Place. Doubtless they may afford good Oil; but I have not expe- 

 rience of any Profits which may arise from them." 



Egg-cases of Unknown Selachians. 



It seems well to describe certain elasmobranch egg-cases or " purses " 

 which come ashore on Fort Macon Beach in the lee of the first point 

 south of the concrete breakwater. 



First there is the ordinary egg-case known to all frequenters of our 

 coast, and found very abundantly on the beach above mentioned. One 

 of these dried cases of average size and appearance gave the following 

 measurements: extreme length over (curled) tendrils 2% inches; length 

 measured from center to center of curve between tendrils \% inches; 

 width of ends {f and 1 inch. 



Some two years ago the writer found on the same collecting ground as 

 the above a large egg-case. This, after being soaked and dried out as fiat 

 as possible, measured as follows : length stump to stump of horns (ten- 

 drils gone) 4 7 - 8 inches, from center to center of curve (as above) 4J 4 

 inches; width at narrow end \\ inches, at wider 1 7 8 inches, of center 

 \% inches. This shell has probably lost 1 4 inch in length by wrinkling. 



In July, 1910, there was found another egg-case of like kind on the 

 same collecting ground. This is so much wrinkled and shortened that it 

 has lost from % to \ inch in length, nor has it been possible to flatten 

 it. However, it measures: length over all 3% inches, from center to 

 center of curve 3 T 7 S inches ; width at narrow end \'-\ v inches, at wide end 

 2 inches, across center 1' 8 inches. 



In 1911 another case similar to these was found lower down ( i. e. south) 

 on the same beach. Wetted and flattened out as much as possible it 

 measures: length overall 5%, from center to center of curved ends 4% 

 inches; width at narrow end \%, at wide end \%, across center 2 inches. 



On none of these cases is there trace of tendrils, these having been 

 broken off short. The stumps, however, are hollow. The first shell is 

 covered with an outer layer of horny material which readily splits up into 

 coarse strands stretching from end to end. The second case has lost 

 most of this covering, showing the polished chitinous shell. The third 

 has hydroids attached to it. 



