DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 29 



Angles of the disk iiiore acute than in the other North Anierieaii Raias; 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 back (very small). Median 

 dorsal row of larger hoi)ked spines extending along the posterior i)()rtion of the back and 

 the tail. Usually two lateral rows on the tail. Female rougher. Color variable, brownish, 

 with paler spots, usually ringed with darker. 



Specimens of a large skate, api)arently of this species, ha\ e been taken below the lOU- 

 fathom line by tlie Fii^h Haick and Albatros>i, and also by the lishermen. 



RAIA GRANULATA, (iiLL. (I'ij^me ai.) 



liuia graniitaia, Gill MS.— (ioooK and Ui:an', liiill. Essex Institute, ,\i, 1879, 28.— JoKL>a.n, Cat. Fish. N. .\., 

 1885, 11. — GiiNTHEU, Challenger Report, xxii, 10. 



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

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

 type as R, kevix, and having 3(»-.'3l teeth on each side; the back granulated and slate-col- 

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

 scarcely expanded." 



This form is closely allied to if not identical with R. la-vis. 



RAIA BATIS, LiNN^us. 



Raja batis, lASUJEVS, Syst. Nat., x, 1, 17.58, 231.— Guxther, Cat. Fisli. Brit. Mus., viii, 187.5, 463.— Stkom, 

 Norsk. Videusk. Selsk. Skrift., 1881, 80; 1884, 46.— Collett, Nyt Mag. f. Naturvirt., xviii, 1884, 119. 



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

 low water, has been observed on the Norwegian coast to descend to 150 fathoms. It is very 

 similar to the North American Raia Icevis. 



RAIA FULLONICA, Lixnjeus. 



JUaja fulloiiica, LiSN.EUS, Syst. Nat., eil. x, 1758, 231.— Gun i her. Cat. Fish. Brit. Miis., viii, 467.— Collett, 

 ForhamU.Vidensk. Selsk. Christ., 1S80, 106; Nyt Mag. tVNaturvid., XV II, 1884, 119.— Vaiilant, Travail- 

 leur et Talisman, Poissnns, 1888, 79, pi. iv, figs. 1, la.— GiGLiOLi, Elenco, 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 1882, at 614 meters, off the entrance to the Mediterranean. It occurs also in the 

 Mediterranean, especially off Sicily. 



RAIA VOMER, Fries. 



Eaja rome/-, Collett, Forhandl. Videusk. Selsk. Christ., 1880, 106; Nyt Mag. f. Natnrvid.. 1884, xviii, 119.— 

 Strom, lot: cil., 1881, 81; 1884, 46.— GOntiier, Challenger Report, xxii, 11. 



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

 not rare at a depth of 70 fitthoms, and descending to, or even beyond, loO fathoms. 



RAIA NIDROSIENSXS, Collett. 



Raja nidronieiisia. Collett, Forhaudl. Videusk. Selsk. Christ., 1882, No. 7. 2, c. tab.; Nyt Mag. f. Natnrvid., 

 xvm, 1884, 121.— Strom, Norsk. Viden.sk. Selsk. Skrift., 1881, 80; 1884, 47.— GCnther, Challenger 

 Report, xxii, 11. 



" Snout long and i)()inted; the width of the interorbital space is coTitained about four times 

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

 the upper margin of the eye, in some old specimens also along the front margin of the 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). l>ut none on the sides; 

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



