FISHES FKOM THE COAST OF NATAL. 3 



or four spines in front of and three behind the orbit. One or 

 two median spines on the back in front of the supra-scapulary 

 region. A median series of spines commencing- on the pos- 

 terior part of the body and extending on to the tail ; tail with 

 one or two series of spines on each side. A large bluish-black 

 white-edged ocellus near the middle of the base of each 

 pectoral. 



Two specimens of nearly the same size, 460 and 480 mm. in 

 total lengthy a male from Algoa Bay, received in 1895 from 

 H. A. Spencer, Esq., and a female from the coast of Natal, at 

 a depth of forty fathoms. 



The male specimen has mixopterygia which extend only a 

 little more than half the distance from their base to the origin 

 of the first dorsal fin, a group of small spines on the anterior 

 part of each side of the pectoral, and a double series of spines 

 on each pectoral near the outer angle of the fin. The median 

 series of spines commences scarcely before the tail, Avhicli has 

 only one series of spines on each side. 



The female specimen has a group of small spines on the 

 posterior part of the pectoral. The median series of spines 

 commences further forward than in the male, and the tail has 

 two series of spines on each side. 



Raia rhizacanthus sp. n. (PI. III). 



Snout with a short, obtuse, triangular projection. Diameter 

 of eye S^ in the length of snout and 1^ in the interorbital 

 width. Distance between the outer edges of nostrils a little 

 less than their distance from the tip of snout. Teeth more 

 or less distinctly pointed, in 36 series in the upper jaw. 

 Anterior border of pectoral undulated. Snout, interorbital 

 space and anterior parts of pectoral fins with numerous small, 

 four-rooted spines. Two strong spines in front of and three 

 behind each orbit. A series of strong spines along the 

 median line of the back and tail ; a pair of supra-scapulaiy 

 spines. Tail Avith two series of small spines on each side. 

 Upper part of the body brownish, Avith some large oblong or 



