OEN RAIA. HOMELYN RAY. 329 



published regarding it has been supplied by Colonel 

 Montagu and Mr. CJouch ; a notice of a specimen 

 taken in Dublin Bay has likewise been given by 

 Mr. M'Coy in the sixth volume of the Annals of 

 Nat. Hist. The extreme minuteness of the eye, the 

 surface beautifully rayed with white lines, the rough- 

 ness of the skin, and the caudal row of spines con- 

 tinued along the dorsal ridge as far as the head, are 

 some of its most striking distinctions. None of the 

 specimens hitherto obtained have been of large size, 

 the largest not exceeding thirty-three inches and a 

 half in length. The outline somewhat resembles 

 that of the Thornback (R. clavata)^ the snout is 

 short and rather obtuse, and the skin rough with 

 minute spines. Mr. Couch's specimen was caught 

 in the end of January 1835, at which time it con- 

 tained numerous eggs, some of which had attained 

 their full growth. Montagu says that it seems to 

 be confounded with R. chagrinea, both being indis- 

 criminately called Dun-coio by the fishermen in the 

 west of England. Continental ichthyologists do not 

 appear to be acquainted with it. 



(Sp. 240.) R. miraletus. Homelyn or Spotted 

 Ray. The great variety in colour and markings to 

 which this species is subject, has led to great con- 

 fusion in its synonomy, although its essential cha- 

 racters of distinction are sujSiciently conspicuous. 

 The snout is formed nearly as in R. microcellata ; 

 eyes of moderate size ; the slcin perfectly smooth 

 both above and below, excepting along the anterior 

 part of the pectorals which is somewhat rough; 



