46 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



Raja spinacidermis, Barnard. 



Raia spinacidermis, Barnard, 1923, Ann. S. Afr. Mus., xiii, p. 440; Barnard, 1925, t.c, 



p. 73, pi. iv, fig. 6. 

 ? Rata durbanensis, von Bonde and Swart, 1923, t.c, p. 11, pi. xxii, fig. i; Barnard, 1925, 



t.c, p. 69. 

 ? Raia plutonia, Barnard, 1925, t.c, p. 68. 



Disc broader than long, its width about f of the total length ; anterior margins scarcely- 

 undulated ; outer angles broadly rounded. Vent very little nearer to tip of snout than 

 to end of tail. Snout pointed but not produced, its length 4! in width of disc. Inter- 

 orbital width a little greater than diameter of eye + spiracle, which is 3^ in length of 

 snout. Internasal width 2 in praeoral length of snout. Teeth in middle of jaws slightly 

 pointed ; 60 rows. Upper surface of disc and tail wholly covered with closely-set, fine, 

 setiform spinules, which are larger and closer together on the tail than elsewhere; no 

 enlarged spines. Lower surface of disc smooth; tail, except the median line of the 

 basal part, spinulated like the upper surface. Upper surface pale slaty grey, becoming 

 a little darker towards the hinder margins of the pectorals and distinctly darker on 

 pelvics ; lower surface similarly and as deeply coloured as upper surface. 



Hab. South Africa. 



Described from the single type specimen, a female, 600 mm. in total length (510 mm. 

 across disc), believed to be from off Cape Point in deep water. 



This species appears to be most nearly related to the European shagreen ray, R. 

 fullonica, Linnaeus. 



It seems probable that the two very young specimens, 120 and 190 mm. in total 

 length (68 and 100 mm. across disc), from south of the Agulhas Bank and from off 

 Cape Point, identified by Barnard as R. plutonia, belong here. In the smaller of these 

 there is a median series of spines on the disc and tail, but these are already disappearing 

 in the larger specimen: there are also some spines above the orbits and spiracles, and 

 one or two pairs of scapular spines. 



DOUBTFUL SPECIES 



Raja montagui, Fowler (= R. maculato, Montagu nee Shaw). 

 Raia maculata, Barnard, 1925, t.c, p. 71. 

 This species has been recorded by Bleeker (i860) and Pappe (1866), but it is probable 

 that the true montagui does not occur in South Africa and that their specimens should 

 be referred to some other species. 



Raja parcomaculata, von Bonde and Swart. 

 1923, t.c, p. 9, pi. xxi, fig. 2. 

 The type specimen from Natal examined by me is only 181 mm. in total length 

 (60 mm. across disc). 



