656 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. xxvi 



nasal valve by u eartilaginou.s frenum; teeth flattened, quadrangular ij 

 at base, not oocupvini*- the whole cleft of mouth. Skin smooth. ' 



{aarpani]^ liolitninu-.) 



45. ASTRAPE JAPONICA Schlegel. 

 SHIBIREI (SHOCKED RAY). 



Astrape jivpomca" ^Q^\XGVA., Fauna Japonica, 1850; p. ;]07, pi. cxl; Nagasaki. 

 Astrape dipteri/</ia Ishik.wva, Prel. Cat., 1897, ]». 60; Tcjkyo, Sagauii Bay, Ajiroin 1 

 Izii ( probably not of Schneider) . 



Disk round and equal to tail, which is broad, compressed, and taper- 

 ing. Head very small; snout short, equal to space })etween spiracles; 

 eyes very small; 4 in space l)etween spiracles; nostrils large, rather 1 

 close together, median flap only separated slightly by a thick frenum; 

 mouth not very broad, about one-half w^idth between spiracles, and 

 jaws with flattened pavement-like teeth; interorbital space nearly flat. , 

 Spiracles larger than eye, and with their edges elevated. 



Body perfectly smooth, l)ut with many pores, especiall}' along 

 outer portions of pectorals. 



First dorsal, when depressed, reaching base of caudal, and equal to 

 half its length; length of base of ventral is equal to widtli of caudal 

 at base; tail greatly depressed, broad, and along sides, a rather narrow, 

 lateral fold. 



Color in alcohol, ))rown above; caudal, dorsal, and middle of tail, 

 deep brown; lower surface with greater portion soiled with pale l»rown, 

 remaining portions whitish. 



Length, T inches. 



This description from a male from Wakanoura. 



Coasts of Southern -Japan, not conmion. Our single example is 

 from Wakanoura. 



Family XX. DASYATID.F]. 



STING RAYS. 



Disk usually more or less broad than long; the pectoral fins uninter- 

 ruptedly confluent in front, forming the tip of the snout; tail variously 

 formed, usually whiplike, sometimes short and stout, sometimes bear- 

 ing a single dorsal or caudal tin, but never with two dorsals; usually 

 one or more vertical folds of skin on tail, rarely a lateral fold. Tail 

 generally armed with a large, sharp, retrorsely serrate spine on its 

 upper surface toward the base; 2 or 3 spines occasionally present. 

 Ventral fins not emarginate. Skin smooth, or variously prickly or 

 spinous, roughest in the adult; no diflerentiated spines on the pectorals 

 in the males, the sexes being similar. Mouth rather small; teeth 



"Narrine timlei, a related spei-ies, is ascribed to Japan ])y (Tiinther, following Rich- 

 ard.son. There is no eviilence that it has ever been taken in Japan. Perhaps 

 Aslra/x' has bi-en mistaken fi»r it. 



