Fishes of Brookhaven. L. I. 2S9 



Raia diaphanes. Mitch. 



Plate XII. Fig 2 * 



A ray, which I am incUned to consider the same as the 

 diaphanes of Mitchill, is frequently taken in nets during sum- 

 mer. It agrees with Dr. Mitchill' s account in almost every 

 thing, except the spines on the tail. Unfortunately I neg- 

 lected to take a description from recent specimens ; I pre- 

 pared, however, a drawing, which is annexed. Dr. Dekay's 

 figure agrees much more nearly than mine does with Mitchill's 

 account, in regard to the spines on the tail. I examined sev- 

 eral fine specimens, and these spines were always much more 

 numerous than Dr. Dekay has represented them. Whether 

 the two can belong to the same species may perhaps be 

 questioned. In my fish the dorsals are not adipose, but con- 

 tain distinct rays ; the.ventrals also are smaller. The very 

 remarkable peculiarity, however, of the translucent portion 

 before the eyes induced me to suppose that 1 had found 

 Mitchill's fZ/ap/i«7ies. 



Pastinaca hastata ? Dekay. 



The rough-tailed sting ray, as this is called by the fisher- 

 men to distinguish it from the following species, is by no 

 means uncommon after the middle of July; fifteen to eighteen 

 of them beinsf sometimes taken at one haul of the net. Their 

 lengths varv from five to ten feet. 



O at 



That this is the Raia centroura of Dr. iNIitchill I have no 

 doubt. It agrees perfectly with the few characters mentioned 

 by him, and as it abounds in waters so near to those in which 

 his specimens were obtained, it appears almost certain that it 

 is the species to which he alludes. I think that it is also the 

 hastata of Dr. Dekay, though the spines on the tail, as de- 

 scribed by him, dift'er from what I have ever found them. I 

 have examined great numbers of specimens, and have invaria- 



* This plate was prepared before the publication of Dr. Dekay's work, otherwise, 

 it would not now appear. — Pub. Com. 



