108 PAINTED RAY. 



the extreme border of the pectorals behind their greatest ex- 

 pansion, as also the abdominal fins and margin of the tail, 

 are edged with white. The under part of the body is white 

 and smooth. 



Another example differed considerably from the former in 

 the nature and distribution of its colours, which were still 

 more beautiful. The ground colour was a brilliant yellow, 

 marked with numerous gyrations, which w^ere lyre-shaped, 

 each side of the disk answering to the other, these gyrations 

 being formed of a dark line, margined on each side with a 

 series of pale yellow spots, like beads. This was a male, but 

 the first-named, caught at the end of January, was a female, 

 with eggs of full growth. About the same date in another 

 season, I obtained a young example from a purse which had 

 been washed on shore in a storm, and which was so far 

 developed that about half the substance of the egg had been 

 absorbed into the body. It was beautifully marked over the 

 surface, and, as there were some particulars in which it differed 

 from what is usually seen in very young specimens of most 

 of the species of this family, I add a more minute description. 

 The lensfth was five inches, of which the tail measured three 

 inches and a line; breadth two inches and two lines; from 

 the posterior edge of the hindmost dorsal fin to the end of 

 the tail six lines. The head well armed in front and round 

 the anterior portion of the disk, and also on the top of the 

 head; a line of spines down the back and tail, from opposite 

 the third gill orifice; a stout spine on each side of the back, 

 at a little behind the space opposite the hindmost gill orifice. 

 The tail stout and greatly tapering, the sides with a border, 

 and rather wide membrane along the middle of the under 

 side. The hindmost caudal fin extended back in a thin mem- 

 brane to the extremity, where the termination tapers finely, 

 and shews much active motion and sensibility of feeling. The 

 colour of the body is pale yellowish browm, regularly lyrated 

 on each side and towards the borders. The caudal portion is 

 towards the end marked with broad bars. Some spines were 

 visible that were not yet through the skin. Although not yet 

 fully developed, it continued alive in water for eight days. 

 Another example, also in an early stage of development, had 

 the spines on the snout and border of the pectorals, with 



