44 DISCOVERY REPORTS 



than to end of tail. Snout with a very small and obtuse projection, its length 6 in width 

 of disc. Interorbital width less than diameter of eye; eye + spiracle if in length of 

 snout. Internasal width 2j in praeoral length of snout. Teeth mostly flat, but some in 

 middle of jaws more or less bluntly pointed ; (32 to 36) 40 to 42 rows. Upper surface of 

 disc mainly smooth, but a large patch of stellate-based spinules on anterior part of each 

 pectoral ; a group of spines on the snout ; a series of 9 spines above each orbit and spiracle, 

 and a pair between the spiracles ; 2 median nuchal spines and a pair of scapular spines ; 

 a series of median spines extending from just behind the suprascapulary region to the 

 first dorsal, and a lateral series of smaller spines on each side ; on the tail there is an 

 additional series at each edge, making 5 rows in this region. Lower surface quite 

 smooth. Upper surface more or less uniformly brownish grey. 



Hah. South Africa, from off Cape Town to the coast of Natal. 



Described from a single female specimen, 485 mm. in total length (270 mm. across 

 disc), from 33° 48' S, 17° 29' E, at a depth of 402-235 m. ; obtained by the Discovery 

 Expedition. The unique holotype was a female, 346 mm. in total length (172 mm. across 

 disc). 



It seems probable that R. alhalinea represents the young of the species described 

 above, but in the absence of examples of intermediate size it is impossible to confirm 

 this. The following description of the young stages is based upon the very small type 

 of R. albalinea (no mm.) and two somewhat larger examples (200, 220 mm.) obtained 

 by the Discovery Expedition: Disc subcircular, its width about | the total length; 

 anterior margins very little undulated. Length of snout about 6 in width of disc. 

 Interorbital width equal to or rather less than diameter of eye ; eye + spiracle i J to 

 about 1 1 in length of snout, 30 to 34 rows of teeth. Upper surface of disc more or less 

 covered with scattered spinules in the smallest example, but in the larger these tend to 

 be more strongly developed on the anterior parts of the pectorals; 2 praeocular and 

 2 or 3 postocular spines; 2 or 3 median nuchal spines and 2 or 3 scapular spines; a 

 median series of 22 to 27 strong spines extending from just behind the suprascapulary 

 region to the first dorsal ; in the type this series is continuous with the nuchal spines ; 

 in one of the larger specimens there are 2 or 3 spines on each side of the median row on 

 the disc ; tail with several series of spinules laterally, those at edge larger. Lower surface 

 quite smooth. Upper surface pale brownish grey, with some rather indistinct and 

 nearly horizontal white lines near the edges of the pectoral fins. 



Described from 3 specimens, 110-220 mm. in total length (55-105 mm. across disc). 



Raja leopardus, von Bonde and Swart. 



Rata quadritnaculata (non Risso), von Bonde and Swart, 1923, t.c, p. 5; Barnard, 1925, t.c, 



p. 70, pi. iv, fig. 5. 

 Raia leopardus, von Bonde and Swart, 1923, t.c, p. 7, pi. xx, fig. 2; Barnard, 1925, t.c, p. 74. 

 Rata lintea, Barnard, 1925, t.c, p. 72. 

 Raia naevus, Barnard, 1925, t.c, p. 72. 

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

 or less undulated, except in young, deeply notched in adult males ; outer angles broadly 



