28 DEEP-SEA FISHES OP THE ATLANTIC BASIN. 



back and tail without spines, or icith a feio only; several series of spines on each side of the 

 median line of the body and tail. Generally a round blaek spot, marbled with yellowisli, on 

 each side of the body. Old examples without this ocellated spot, or with a few seattered 

 small white round spots. 



" Adult male with the additional i)atches of spines usual in this seuns." {Gihither.) 

 This speeies, the "Sandy Kay" of British writers, is closely allied to Raia crinacea, 

 Mitcliill { = Raia efilaiiteria, as detiiied by Giinther), the most abtmdiiTit of all skates on the 

 coast of Xew Enjiland, whieh has, however, not yet been found below the KK) fathom line. 

 Giinther speaks as follows of the abyssal range of R. circularis : 



"One specimen, a female. 1") inches long, was obtained on the cruise of the Triton, in 

 the Faroe Channel, at a depth of .'•lO fathoms (station 10, August 24, l.S8li). Also, Collett 

 reports its occurrence in 130 and .170 fathoms oft' the coast of Norway. The Faroe specimen 

 does not diff'er in its armature from specimens obtained on tlie soutli coast of England, only 

 the spines on the upper side of the snout and tlie iiiterorbitid space are somewhat more 

 developed, though in this respect literal specimens show likewise some variation. With 

 regard to color, it is notable that the spot on each side of the back which, in litbu'al specv 

 imens, is variegated with yellow, is much smaller in the (lc('])-sea specimen, and uniforndy 

 black, without yellow. The lower parts are nearly uniform blackish brown, which color laps 

 over to the upper side of the ventral fins. Tail witii irregular brownish cross bands." 



KAIA HYPERBOKEA, Collett. (Figme 28.) 



Raja kyprrborea, Collett, Forh. Viilensk. Selskab., Chrisliania, 1878, No. 14, 7 [11.5 kilometers West of 

 Norsk I'ds, Spitzbergen., 4.59 fathoms, ^, 518""" loug]. — Collktt, Fiske, Norsk. Nordhavs-Expeditioii, 

 Cliristiauia, 1880, !t, pi., i, lig.s. 1, 2. — Gunther, Challenger Report, xxii, 8, pi. iv. 



The margins of the snout form a right or nearly right angle, its extremity being 

 rounded; the margin of the body between the snout and the extremity of the pectoral fin 

 is undulated. Width of the interorbital space considerably exceeding that of the orbit and 

 spiracle; eye rather small, about as long as the spiracle. Distance between the nostrils a 

 little more than their distance from the end of the snout. Tc^eth very slendei', acutely 

 pointed, widely set, with narrow base. Outer pectoral angle nearly a right one. 



Sides of the trunk nearly smooth, but the greater part of the pectorals and the margin 

 of the head, al.so the snout and interorbital space, are studded with minute or very snnill 

 spines resting upon a stellate base. A series of larger siiines runs along the median line of 

 the back and tail, commencing immediately behind the occiput. A group of three similar 

 splines occupies each side of tlu^ shoulder; a short series composed (tf three or four spines 

 along the supraorbital margin and above the spiracle. Tlie s])ines along the ridges of the 

 snout are also somewhat enlarged. Grayish brown above witii a trace of a darker .spot on 

 each side of the body. Lower parts white with large subsymmetrical brown patches. In 

 very young .specimens the lower jjarts are uniform white. 



"The only example hitherto met with is the male specimen now described, taken in hit. 

 about 80° N. and Ion. CP E., at sea, west of the northern coast of Spitsbergen, the most 

 northerly locality, too, in which this genus is yet known to occur." {Collett, op. rit., ISSO.) 



Alarge male specimen, 21^ inches long, was obtained on the cruisi^ of tlie Kniqht Errant, 

 at station 9, on August 23, 1880, in 608 fathoms, together with three small ones, of which 

 two are males f>A inches long, and one a female 8 inches long. A fourth very young speci- 

 men was caught at station 4 in about 400 fathoms. 



Dr. Giinther's remarks on the peculiar characters of this species (Challenger Report, loc. 

 cit.) .should be carefully considered. 



KAIA E.EVIS, MiTcniLL. (Figure 2!!.) 



Baja la^ns. Mitciiili,, Amer. .Month. M.ag., il, 1817, 327.— De Kay, Zocil. N. V.. Fishes, 1,S42, :J70.— Stokeu, .Syn. 



Fish. N. Amer., 1846, 2.59.— Gakmax, Proe. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., xvn, 1874, 179. 

 Raja batis, Storer, Rept. Fish. Mass., 1839. 193. 

 Raja ocellata. Stoker, Syn. Fish. N. Amer., 1846, 2.59. 

 Raja hvris, Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass., 1867, 266, pi. xxxix, fig 2. 



