40 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY IV, 
Our knowledge of the American species has been in a state of great 
confusion until very lately, the first careful comparison of the species 
ha^dng been made bj^ Mr. Garman in 1874. On his excellent paper* the 
followuig account is based. {Rata or Raja, the Latin name of fishes of 
this genus.) 
1 . — Atlantic Species. 
* Outline of the disk .anterior to the spiracles rounded, not forming an angle at the 
tip of the snout, 
t Rows of teeth about 
48. K. ei’inacea Mitchill. — Common Skate; Little Skate; Tohacco-box. 
Form rhomboid, with all the angles rounded ; spines largest on the 
anterior extensions of the pectorals, where they are close-set, strong, 
laterally compressed and hooked backwards j smaller ones are scattered 
over the head, above the spiracles, above and in front of the eyes, on 
the back, the median line of which ^ comparatively smooth, without 
larger median series, except in the young. A triangular patch on the 
shoulder-girdle; inner jiosterior angles of the pectorals nearly smooth ; 
in the males near the exterior angles of the pectorals are two rows of 
large erectile hooks, pointing backwards. Females with grouiis of small 
scales on each side of the vent ; teeth small, the middle ones sharp in 
the males ; all blunt in the females ; Jaws much curved; each side of tail 
with a dermal fold ; caudal fins rough, not separate to the base. Color 
light brown, with small round spots of dark brown ; females larger than 
the males. L. 1 to 2 feet {Garman.) The smallest and commonest of our 
skates; al)midaut on oiu- coast, especially northward. 
{Rain crinacea ^Mitchill, Am. Jouru. fSci. Arts, xi, 290, 182,'); Raia cglantcria Giintber, 
vlii, 4G2; Garman, 1. c. 176.) 
tt Rows of teeth to j), g). 
41>. K. occllata. Mitchill. — OccUated Ray ; Rig Skate. 
General form and appearance of the preceding ; the arrangement of 
si)ines similar, except that additional rows of spines are i)resent down 
the back and along the sides of the tail; caudal fin not separate, rough 
with small spines ; jaws curved. Color light brown, with rounded dark 
si)ots ; a translucent space on each side of the siiout ; near the po.sterior 
angle of the pectoral there is usually (but not always) a large white 
ocellus, with a dark spot in the centre and a darker border; two smaller 
similar spots often present {Garman). Size very much larger than the 
* On the Skates (Rajaj) of the Eastern Coasts of the United States: By S. W. Gat- 
man. <Proc. Host. Soc. Nat. Hist, xvii, Nov. 4, 1874, pi). 170-181. 
