FISHES OF WEST COAST OF PERU. 13 



mm. 



Distance from tip of snout to end of first dorsal 440 



Base of first dorsal 39 



Distance between dorsals 78 



Base of second dorsal 43 



Distance from second dorsal to base of caudal 42 



Length of caudal 121 



Width of intei-orbitals 40 



Height of dorsals 75 



Body rhombic, width of disk 1.52 in its length; head broad and 

 flat; snout broad, its tip rounded; ridges of rostral cartilage close 

 together, dilated at tip, spiracle immediately behind and smaller 

 than eye, only a single fold on the posterior border, as well developed 

 in the young as in the adult; mouth straight; anterior nasal valve 

 single, not dilated; posterior two-lobed; an irregular row of rather 

 stout spines on median line of back from occiput to first dorsal, 

 several spines between dorsals ; the rows of spines on ridges of rostral 

 cartilage, over eyes and on median line of caudal peduncle, absent 

 or greately reduced, approximating the prickles in size and appear- 

 ance; two small patches of spines on shoulder. Dorsals triangular; 

 anterior borders of pectorals straight, outer lobe rounded, hinder 

 edge reaching to opposite middle of vent; outer angle of ventrals 

 rounded, tip acute. 



Color, brownish olive on back, slaty white on belly; several large 

 indistinct dark brown areas, symmetrically arranged on either side 

 of median line of back. 



Color in life, light olive green with numerous dark blotches sym- 

 metrically placed, but of vague outline. First and second dorsal, 

 caudal and outer parts of ventrals and pectorals with the least 

 tinge of rufous; ventral surface white, except outer border of pec- 

 torals and in lesser degree the outer border of the ventrals. 



Regarding the embryos, Mr. Coker states that they were taken 

 from a " Guiatarra," 98 cm, in length. Eight in all were taken from 

 this fish. 



Family RAJIDAE. 



THE SKATES 



KEY TO GENERA KEPEESENTED. 



fl\ Disli rhombic ; pectoral fins not extending forward to the extremity of 

 snout Raja, p. 13. 



a'. Disk circular ; snout short and overlapped by the anterior portions of the 

 pectoral fins which form the foremost part of the disk Psammobatis, p. 16. 



Genus RAJA (Artedi) Linnaeus. 



KEY TO SPECIES REPRESEXTED. 



o\ Distance from tip of snout to line connecting tips of pectorals 2 in breadth 

 of disk ; enlarged spines along median dorsal line of tail 25 to 30 ; dorsal 

 surface of tail covered with stout prickles ; rostral angle 52 degrees. 



aguja, p. 14. 



