SOUTH AFRICA 41 



about 2f in length of snout. Internasal width i^ to if in praeoral length of snout. 

 Teeth pointed in males, at least in middle of jaws, blunt in females ; 36 to 44 rows 

 (fewer in young). Upper surface of disc and tail in young with small scattered spines, 

 chiefly confined to the snout, interorbital region, anterior parts of pectorals and the 

 sides of the tail ; in adults the disc and tail are more or less covered with small spinules ; 

 mature females sometimes with large round "bucklers" bearing claw-like spines 

 scattered irregularly over the upper and lower surfaces, which are nearly always absent 

 in males ; 2 praeocular and 3 postocular spines in the young, the numbers being reduced 

 or the spines disappearing altogether in the adults ; young with a pair of scapular spines, 

 disappearing in the adults ; a median series of 27 to 45 spines, extending anteriorly to 

 beyond the scapulary region in the young, but scarcely beyond the pelvic region in 

 adults ; tail in females with one or two lateral series of spines. Lower surface smooth 

 in the young, but adults with some small spines, especially on the snout. Brownish 

 or greyish, with or without darker and paler markings; young generally with a dark 

 ocellated spot, sometimes circular, sometimes oblong, near the middle of the base of 

 each pectoral ; lower surface pale, occasionally with some dark patches. 



Hob. South Africa, from Walfish Bay to the coast of Natal ; Madagascar. 



Described from 13 specimens, 135-840 mm. in total length (90-620 mm. across disc), 

 from Kalk Bay, False Bay, Agulhas Bank, off Cape St Blaize, and off Bird Island, Natal. 



This species is closely related to R. clavata, the thornback ray of European seas, but 

 the two appear to be distinct. In R. clavata the upper surface is entirely spinulose, even 

 in the newly hatched young, whereas in the African species the adults are never 

 completely covered with spinules. Comparison of specimens of equal size shows that 

 in R. clavata the spinules are always more closely set. Further, in R. clavata the tail is 

 constantly rather longer, the vent being distinctly nearer to the tip of the snout than to 

 the end of the tail, and there is a difference in the shape of the snout. 



The four large specimens from near Cape St Blaize and west of Cape Point, sent to 

 the British Museum in 1900 by Dr Gilchrist, and identified by Dr G. A. Boulenger as 

 R. batis, prove to belong to this species. 



Raja smithi, Miiller and Henle. 



1841, Plagiost., p. 150, pi. xlix, fig. i ; Barnard, 1925, t.c, p. 66, pi. iv, fig. 4. 

 Disc broader than long, its width f to f of the total length ; anterior margins a little 

 undulated; outer angles obtusely pointed. Vent nearly equidistant from tip of snout 

 and end of tail. Snout a little produced, its length 5f to 5! in width of disc. Inter- 

 orbital width equal to or a little less than diameter of eye + spiracle, which is 2 to about 

 2f in length of snout. Internasal width i| to if in praeoral length of snout. Teeth 

 rather widely spaced, those in the middle of the jaws pointed in both sexes ; 26 to 28 

 rows. Upper surface with small four- or five-rooted spinules on snout, interorbital 

 region, anterior, posterior and outer parts of pectorals, and on the middle of the back, 

 the last being more numerous in adults; no enlarged ocular spines; young with 14 to 

 16 median spines on the tail, and adults with 4 or 5 additional median spines on the 



