DISCUSSION OF SPECIES AND THEIR DISTRIBUTION. 27 



sleuder poiut. At present it seems likely that these youug skntes represent a variety of R. 

 ackleyi. Whether they are more distinct can only be determined by comparison of young 

 and adults of each." (Garmtdt.) 



An individual obtained by the Albatross at station 2377, February 11, 18X5, believed to be 

 of this species, was colored as follows: Puucticulate witli brown on the dorsal surface, and 

 with a few scattered larger blotches of the same. The gnmnd color is a <iTayish brown, 

 quite pale. 



KAIA PLUTONIA. (Ukman. (Figure ai.) 



Rnjaplutonia, Gahman, Bull. Mus Comi>. Zuiil.. Vul. \"iii, Xo. 11, ISSl, 2'M. — Giuidk .ind Bkax, up. rit. — (iVs- 

 THEK, Challenger Hcport, xxil, 10. 



'Disk, including ventrals, bioadcr than long, sub(iuadraugular, broadly lounded in 

 front and on the lateral angles; snout forming a very blunt angle; margin opposite the gill 

 openings nearly straight. Tail about one and one-half times the length of the disk, sleuder, 

 depressed, with a cutaneous fold on each side near the extremity. Rostral cartilage short, 

 not extending to the end of the snout. Mouth moderate, slightly curved, width eipuiling 

 the distance between the outer angles of the nostrils, and contained twice in its distance 

 from the cud of the snout. Teeth about thirty-two series (a young specimen). Eyes large, 

 longitudinal diameter of orbit greater than their distance apart. Interorbital space con- 

 cave, narrow: width rather more than two and one half times in the distance of the eyes 

 from the end of the snout. Spiracles small. Anterior nasal valve tul)ular; posterior reach- 

 ing the mouth, free on its outer margin. Hinder extremity of pect<u'al broad, nmnded. 

 Ventrals deeply notched, anterior portion narrow, extending farther from the middle of the 

 pelvis than the posterior. * * * 



" Back and tail covered with small, closely set, stellate based scales, which bear elon- 

 gate, slender, compressed, backward directed points. Larger spines form a sujierorbital 

 row, and a single one stands on each side of the back of the head. The largest on the 

 body form a close vertebral series on back and tail. On each side of the shoulder girdle 

 there is an irregular series of five, and a short distance in front of each of these stands one 

 or a pair. On each side of the tail there are two series, little smaller than those of the 

 medial row. Smooth below. Very small specimens have not so many spines. 



"Brown, grayish in small to pui-plish in the largest specimens at hand, with more or 

 less irregular transverse series of distinctly defined spots of brown, often confluent into 

 .short bands, intersi)ersed among which are spots of white of varying size and shapes. 

 Tail with cross bands of light and of dark. Dorsals dark. Entire lower surface white." 

 [Gar man.) 



This species was obtaim-d during the crui.se of the llniteil States steamei' lihtkc. in 

 from 2JU to 3.33 fathoms, off tlie coast of Florida, in lat. 32° N., Ion. 78-^ (stations 31(!, 317, 

 321). 



Ill the specimens described by Garnian the rostral cartilage was undeveloped, and he 

 proposed tentatively the subgenus ^[(llac<>rllinus for their rec<-ption. 



Specimens were obtained from the following stations: cccxvii, lat. M^ ">7', Ion. 78° 

 18' 35", 333 fathoms, 1; cccxvi, lat. 32° 7', Ion. 78° 37' 30". 229 fathoms, r,; occxxi. lat. 

 320 43' 25", Ion. 77° 20' ;50", 2:!3 fathoms, 1. 



RAIA CIRCKLARIS, Coren. (FiKnr.<25.) 



liaju r.irciihiris, Coucn, Chaiiesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist., 1838, n, 71; Corui.sli Faun., p. ".:(; Fish. Hvit. I.sl., 

 1, 11.5, p\. 28.— GUNTHF.R, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mu.s.. vni, 462; Chiillcnger Report, xxii. S.— Day, Fish. (i. H. 

 and Ireland, n, 348, pi, cr.xxrv. 



"Angles formed by the margin of tlie snout obtuse, tlie extremity .slightly projecting. 

 The width of the interorbital si)ace eipial to the length of the orbit. Teeth pointed, in from 

 70 to 80 series in the npiier Jaw. Outer pectoral angle obtusely rounded. Tpper part of 

 the body covered with minute asperities; a series of spines all along the superciliary ridge; 

 a triangular space in the middle of the bacJ; covered with .timilar spines; median line of the 



