42 DISCOVERY RI':PORTS 



back behind the nuchal region ; sides of tail with several series of very small spinules. 

 Lower surface quite smooth. Upper surface more or less uniformly brownish or greyish ; 

 lower surface white, sometimes with irregular black blotches and with black margins 

 to the posterior part of the disc ; lower surface of tail black. 



Hab. South Africa. 



Described from 3 specimens, 210-520 mm. in total length (150-330 mm. across disc), 

 including the type of the species (a dried skin). 



Barnard regards R. eatoni, Giinther, from Kerguelen Island, as a local variety of 

 R. smithi, but, although the two species are clearly related, they seem to be distinct. 

 R. eatoni has a longer and more pointed snout and there are obvious differences in 

 the spination. 



Raja ocellifera, Regan. 



1906, Ann. Natal Mus., i, p. 2, pi. ii; 1908, t.c, p. 242; Barnard, 1925, t.c, p. 67. 



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

 less undulated ; outer angles rounded or obtusely pointed. Vent a little nearer to tip 

 of snout than to end of tail. Snout with a short, obtuse, triangular projection, its length 

 5I (young) to 6 in width of disc. Interorbital width greater than diameter of eye, but 

 less than that of eye + spiracle, which is 2 (young) to 2f in length of snout. Internasal 

 width i^ to 1 1 in praeoral length of snout. Teeth with sharp points in males (but often 

 much worn), more or less obtuse in females ; 44 to 50 rows. Upper surface of disc and 

 tail smooth, except for a few small spinules on tip of snout, on rostral ridges, and on 

 anterior margins of pectorals, these spinules stronger in males ; 2 to 4 praeocular and 

 2 or 3 postocular spines; usually i to 3 median nuchal spines; young with a pair of 

 scapular spines ; a median series of spines commencing on posterior part of body and 

 extending on to tail, commencing further forward in females than in males ; in young 

 of both sexes the series commences immediately behind the suprascapular region ; tail 

 with one or two series of spines on each side. Lower surface quite smooth. Upper 

 surface brownish, with or without small darker spots ; a large bluish-black, white-edged 

 ocellus near the middle of the base of each pectoral ; lower surface vmiformly pale. 



Hab. South Africa, from False Bay to Natal. 



Described from 12 specimens, 125-490 mm. in total length (88-340 mm. across disc), 

 from False Bay, Agulhas Bank, off Cape St Blaize, Algoa Bay, and the coast of Natal, 

 including the types of the species. 



This species is closely related to R. miraletiis from the Mediterranean and the west 

 coast of Africa, which has, however, a somewhat longer tail, a longer snout (4^ to 5 J 

 in width of disc and 2\ to 2| times eye + spiracle), narrower interorbital region (equal 

 to or less than, only occasionally greater than, diameter of eye), and there are only 

 38 to 42 rows of teeth. In R. miraletus the ocellus is nearly circular, whereas, in R. 

 ocellifera this tends to be horizontally ovate. In some respects the two specimens 

 obtained by the ' Discovery ' off the coast of Angola approach the African form, but 

 should, I think, be referred to R. miraletus. 



