PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 35 



32. Raia binoculata Girard. — Skate; Hay. 



{liala zooperi Grd. ) 



From Monterey to Alaska ; everywhere couiinori ; tbe largest aud most 

 alniudaut skate on tbe coast. It lre<inents bays and sandy shores, and 

 is taken with nets or books. It feeds on crustaceans and fishes. Two 

 specimens of Coffu.s polyacanthocephalus, each a foot long, were found in 

 tbe stomach of one of these skates. The egg-cases are laid in July. 

 They are quadrate, with very short tentacles, and are nearly ai foot in 

 length. Baia binoculata reaches a length of ~) to 6 feet and a weight of 

 more than GO pounds. It is generally the commonest species in the 

 markets of San Francisco; elsewhere it is rarely used for food, and its 

 liver yields but very little oil. 



Family TEYGOKIDyE. 



33. Urolophus halleri ('oo|)<'r. — Bound Sthnj liatf. 



Vroui Point Concepcion southward 5 excessively abundant in tbe bays 

 and lagoons. The bottom of portions of San Diego Bay is literally lined 

 with these rays, who lie on tbe bottom nearly buried in loose sand or 

 mud. This is tbe smallest, most abundant, and most dangerous of the 

 stiug-rays, striking (piickly and accurately with its muscular tail. One 

 taken in a net struck at another, the sting passing entirely through the 

 body of the latter. This species reaches a length of 18 inches, and is 

 never eaten. 



34. Pteroplatea mannorata C'oopt'v. — /.'«(/• 



From Santa Barbara southward ; common in bays aud along sandy 

 sbores. It reaches a length of IJ feet, the breadth being about 2^. It 

 i.s not usually recognized as a sting-ray, and is, therefore, frequently 

 u.scd as food, the larger ones taken at San Pedro being shipped to Los 

 Angeles, where they are eaten by the French as Rate. 



35. Dasybatus diptenxrus Jordan & Gilbeil. 



Abundant in San Diego Bay; not seen elsewhere. It reaches a 

 Icngtii ot nearly o leet, exclusive of the taib It is not used as food. 



Family MYLIOBATIDJE. 



36. Myliobatis californicus Gill. — Sthifjcaee ; Stuifj Uuij. 



{Khbtoplvra rcfipertUio Grd.) 



J'rom Cape jMendocino southward; very abuTKlant, especially about 

 San Diego. Like the other species of sting-rays, it feeds on fishes and 

 Crustacea, and takes the hook readily. Its young are brought forth in 

 ,Iu]y. It reaches a weight of 00 i)Ounds or more, and is sometimes 

 brought into tbe market of San Francisco. 



37. Aetobatis laticep.o Gill. 



California and southward ; not obtained by us. 



