RAYS 79 



the same extent as the big Sting Rays. It does not offer so 

 much resistance when captured, and the smaller spine, being 

 placed much nearer to the base of the tail, forms a less effective 

 weapon. It has been denied by many that there is any 

 specific poison giand associated with the spine, but glandular 

 tissue similar to that described in the spine of the Sting Ray 

 is almost certainly present. Dr. Coles states there are many 

 authenticated cases in which permanent disability, loss of 

 leg or arm, or even death, has resulted from a wound caused 

 by the " sting ", and gives a vivid description of his personal 

 experience of its effects. " On the morning of July 12, 1910," 

 he writes, " while handling a large specimen . . . il 

 suddenly threw its body against me and drove its poisoned 

 sting into my leg above the knee for more than two inches, 

 striking the bone, and producing instantly a pain more 

 horrible than I had thought possible that man could suffer. 

 . . . I braced myself against the body of the creature 

 and tore its barbed spine from my flesh." Luckily, he had a 

 hypodermic syringe handy, and was able to inject a strong 

 antiseptic solution into the wound : the effect was magical, 

 the pain stopped instantly, and the wound rapidly healed. 



The Spotted Eagle Ray is viviparous, and the growing 

 embryo is nourished in the uterus of the mother in much 

 the same way as that of the Sting Ray. When the young 

 are ready to be born, the mother repeatedly leaps high into 

 the air, and the curled-up embryos are thrown one at a time 

 from her body. 



The flesh of this ray is eaten in the West Indies, India, 

 East Indies, the Hawaiian Islands and elsewhere, and is said 

 to be white, and, if properly prepared, highly palatable. 

 Apart from its use as food, it appears to have no economic 

 value. 



COW-NOSED RAYS OR WHIPPAREES. 



(Genus Rhinofitera.) Fig. 30. 



Very similar in appearance to the True Eagle Rays, but the 

 fleshy pad at the front of the head is more or less divided into 

 2 lobes, and, as it is placed below the level of the pectoral 

 fins, the snout has the appearance of being 4-lobed. The 



