FISHES. — MCCULLOCH. 177 



Described and figured from a specimen 255 mm. ^vide ; six 

 others, 232-275 mm. A\ide, exhibit but httle variation in their 

 proportions and general contour. I am indebted to Mr. David 

 G. Stead, General Manager of the State Trawhng Industry, 

 and to Skipper Hoult, of the trawler " Koraaga " for these 

 excellent specimens. 



This species is distinguished from U. testaceus by the absence 

 of lobes on the nostrils and a fringe on the internasal valve, 

 while the tail has a distinct lateral fold. The dorsal fin is 

 usually absent in U. viridis and present in U. testaceus, but in 

 five out of fifteen specimens of the former species which I 

 have examined, a small fin is developed ; these were at first 

 considered to rej^resent a distinct sjDecies, but as I have failed 

 to find any other character to distinguish them, I beheve the 

 presence or absence of a dorsal fin is variable Avithin the limits 

 of a species in the genus Urolophus. 



Logs. — The Green-backed Stingaree is very plentiful in 

 moderately deep water off the coast of New South Wales, 

 where it is captured by the trawlers in depths of 50-70 fathoms. 

 I also found it common oft' the eastern coast of Tasmania, when 

 on board the " Endeavour." Specimens lacking the dorsal 

 fin were obtained north-east of Babel Island, Bass Strait, 

 70-100 fathoms ; north-east of Green Cape, New South Wales, 

 49 fathoms ; and five to eight miles off Newcastle, New South 

 Wales, 21-48 fathoms. The specimens in which the dorsal 

 fin is present were trawled in Jervis Bay, Ncav South Wales, 

 10-11 fathoms ; in Botany Bay and Port Jackson ; and eight 

 miles east of Sandon Bluffs, New South Wales, 35-40 fathoms. 



Urolophus bucculentus, Macleay. 

 Sandy-backed Stingaree. 



Urolophus hucculentus, Macleav, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. 



Wales, ix., 1885, p. 172. 

 Trygonoptera bucculenta, W^aite, Mem. Austr. Mus., iv., 



pt. 1, 1899, p. 44, pi. V. 



This species is easily recognisable in the fresh state by its 

 pecuhar colouration, which is pale brown above, closely 

 speckled with small brownish white dots on the greater part 

 of the back. Tliis marking is still traceable on some parts of 

 Macleay 's specimens. The State trawlers obtain a considerable 

 number of this ray on the coast of New South Whales, and I 

 have also seen it traAvlecl off the eastern coast of Tasmania, but 

 have no note as to whether it is abundant there. 



Loc. — A single specimen is preserved in the " Endeavour " 

 collection from north-east of Babel Island, Bass Strait, 70-100 

 fathoms. 



