22 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



back ; no ocular or scapular spines, and no enlarged median spines on the disc ; a median 

 series of 17 to 19 sharply pointed, backwardly curved spines on the tail, extending from 

 the pelvic region to the first dorsal fin ; in the young male these extend forward on to 

 the disc, but are much smaller in this region and decrease in size anteriorly ; edges of 

 tail with minute asperities. Lower surface quite smooth. Dorsal fins close to end of 

 tail, separated by a spine. Brownish, with traces of paler and darker spots or rings ; the 

 two females show traces of a pale pectoral ocellus, margined with darker ; lower surface 

 uniformly yellow or white, the tail sometimes stained with darker. 



Hab. North of the Falkland Islands. 



This species is close to R. eatonii, Gunther, from Kerguelen, differing chiefly in the 

 shape of the disc, the narrower interorbital, larger and more numerous median spines 

 on the tail, etc. It is not unlike R. oguja, Kendall and Radcliffe, from the coast of 

 Peru, but that species has a shorter snout and smaller and more numerous spines on 

 the tail. 



Raja albomaculata, sp.n. (Plate V). 



St. WS 817. 14. i. 32. 52° 23' S, 64 19' W. Commercial otter trawl, 202-238 m. : 1 male 

 specimen, 400 mm. (width of disc 280 mm.). 



St. WS 824. 19. i. 32. 52 29' 15" S, 58 27' 15" W. Commercial otter trawl, 146-137 m. : 1 male 

 specimen, 360 mm. (width of disc 260 mm.). 



St. WS 839. 5. ii. 32. 53 30' 15" S, 63° 29' W. Commercial otter trawl, 403-434 m. : 1 male 

 specimen, 630 mm. (width of disc 420 mm.). Holotype. 



St. WS 868. 30. iii. 32. 5i°44'S, 64 13' W. Commercial otter trawl, 166-162 m.: 1 female 

 specimen, 490 mm. (width of disc 330 mm.). 



St. WS 875. 3. iv. 32. 52 36' S, 63' 47' 45" W. Commercial otter trawl, 252-234 m.: 1 male 

 specimen, 370 mm. (width of disc 265 mm.). 



The following young specimen may belong here : 



St. WS 245. 18. vii. 28. 52 36' S, 63 40' W. Commercial otter trawl, 304-290111.: 1 female 

 specimen, 170 mm. (width of disc 105 mm.). 



Disc broader than long, its width § to more than | of the total length; anterior 

 margins a little undulated, not emarginate; outer angles rounded or very obtusely 

 pointed. Vent about equidistant from tip of snout and end of tail. Snout sometimes 

 with a very short obtuse projection, its length about ^ width of disc ; interorbital width 

 equal to or a little less than longitudinal diameter of eye; length of eye + spiracle if to 

 twice in that of snout. Internasal width rather more | praeoral length of snout. Teeth 

 of moderate size, close-set, with pointed crowns, often worn so that the teeth appear 

 quite flat; 28 to 34 rows in the upper jaw, which has a shallow median emargination. 

 Upper surface of disc mainly smooth, but with patches of minute spinules, chiefly on 

 anterior parts of pectorals, on the snout, round the eyes, and on each side of the median 

 series of spines ; in a mature male the disc is nearly smooth, with a few spinules on its 

 anterior edges and in the ocular region ; no enlarged ocular or scapular spines ; a median 

 series of 17 to 23 strong, curved, compressed spines, extending from the nuchal region 

 to the first dorsal fin, those on the tail stronger than those on disc ; 2 or 3 spines on the 

 nuchal region sometimes separated by a gap from the remainder ; in a female of 490 mm. 



