21. TRYGONID^ DASYATIS. 47 



with lialf spots of paler. Tail with four dark blotches above, forming 

 half rings. (Caudal si)ine wanting in all the specimens examined.) Vir- 

 ginia to Brazil; not nncommon. 



{liaia maclura Lo Sueur, .Jouni. Ac. Nat. (Sii. I'liila. IHIT, 41 ; Dunieril, Hist. Nat. 

 Poiss. i, 014 ; rriintln'i', viii, 4^7.) 



<»0. p. niariiioratJi Cooper. 



Disk about twice as broad as long, covered with [)ertectl.v smooth skin. 

 Tail 3f in length of disk, with a rather small cutaneous fold above and 

 below, the lower fold the- 'onger, the upper about as deep. Interor- 

 bital space a little shorter than the snout. Snout slightly prominent, 

 but forming a very obtuse angle. Olive-brown, linely mottled every- 

 where with darker, the dark forming reticulations around pale roundish 

 spots. Tail without dark rings. Caud.il spine nuich smaller than in 

 other sting rays ; present in all specimens examined. Coast of Califor- 

 nia from Point Concepcion south ward ; common. 



(Cooper, Proc. Cal. Ac. Nat. Sci. iii, 112.) 



40.— DASYATIS Kaliuesque. 

 Sting Bays. 



(Trijf/oii Adausou.) 



(Rafiuesque, Caratteri di Alcuni Nuovi Geu. 1810, 16: type Dmtjatis njus Raliuesque = 

 Eaia paatinaca Linuiuus. ) 



Disk oval, flat, with rounded angles. Tail very long and slender, 

 whii)-like, witliout lin, but often with one or two vertical membranace- 

 ous folds. A strong serrated si)ine toward the base of the tail. Skin 

 more or less spinous or priclvly, rarely smooth. Teeth small, paved. 

 A few ])aiulhe usually ])resent in the mouth behind the lower jaw. 

 Sting rays of large size, abundant in warm seas. Many of the spinous 

 species are nearly or (juite smooth when young. (r)«/r'';r, shaggy or 

 rough; ;5ar!'?, a skate; hence projierly 7M.s7//>a//.s'.) 



* rppcr caiulal Inld obsolete; lower well developed. {Ilrmilnjfion Miiller it llenle.) 



61. D. ceiitS'liril!°» (Mitehili ) .Jordan A; (Jilhert. — Coinmini A'/i;/;/ Rat/ ; Clam Cracker; 

 Stiiif/arcf. 



J^isk a little broader than long, its anterior angle obtuse. Tail rel- 

 atively stout, about one-third longer than the disk. A well -developed 

 fold below, but the ui)i)fr Ibid reduced to a mere trace. Dislc perfectly 

 smooth in tlie young, with more or less of tubercles along the median 

 line of the back and the scapular region in tlui adult. Buccal papilla) 

 3. Width of mouth about half its distance from the tip of the snout. 



