434 FISHES. 



tubercles. In colour, the sting-ray is generally of a uni- 

 form reddish brown, rarely marbled or spotted. The tail- 

 spine is capable of inflicting serious wounds, but it seems 

 uncertain whether their severity is due merely to lacera- 

 tion, or whether there is in addition any active poison at 

 work. 



The Eagle-Ray and Ox-Ray are among the largest of liv- 

 ing fishes, growing, in tropical seas at any rate, to the 

 enormous weight of upwards of looo lbs. In 

 ag e- ay. ^^^^ ^q^^^ however, only comparatively small ex- 

 amples, between 2 and 3 feet in length, have been captured. 

 The tail of the eagle-ray is, like that of the sting-ray, 

 armed with a serrated spine as a rule ; but this spine is 

 sometimes wanting, and in some examples, on the other 

 hand, there is a second. The tail itself is whip-like, and 

 bears a small fin before the spine. This ray is exceedingly 

 broad, the wing-like appearance of the pectoral fins having 

 doubtless suggested the trivial name. Its colour is greenish 

 brown above, white beneath, the tail being in many ex- 

 amples almost black. The teeth are broad, and lie in 

 seven rows. This fish is generally described as viviparous, 

 but Couch gives an account of its " purse," which he de- 

 scribed as of large size and marked with lines and spots. 



[The Ox-Ray, likewise a wanderer only to our seas, is 

 the " Devil-fish " of the West Indies, which is distinguished 

 by the " horns " before the eyes, fleshy pro- 

 ^" ' cesses which the fish can coil and unfurl at 

 will. The long and tapering tail, which is three times the 

 length of the body, is covered with tubercles and armed 

 with a serrated spine. The gape of the mouth is enor- 

 mous, and the teeth lie in 150 rows. It has been sug- 

 gested that the retractile " horns " may be of service in 

 setting up a current and bringing food to the mouth. 

 But one example (Irish) is recorded from our seas.] 



