STUDIES TN AITSTHAIJAN K I SUMS. 



N... <). * 

 With H description of ;i new (,'in'llnjis I'l-oni tlie Keiniiidt'c Ishimls. 



iiv 



Ai.i.AN U. Mo('i'i,i,(M'ii, Zooloofist, Ansti'iiliiui Mnscuni. 



(Plates x-xiv.) 



Family DASYATI l)/K. 



Genus Takxhira, Miillei- ^- llcnJc 



'i\\K\IHi;A r-YMMA, Forsl.-ill. 



(Plate X.) 



'riii'iu'iird hjiniiin, Gavnian, ^[eni. Mns. Conip. Z(M)1., xxxvi., 1913, p. 399 

 — c/f^r references and synonymy. /»/., Ogilby, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. 

 Wales, X., 1885, p. 4()5, and Mem. (^Id. Mns.', i., 1912, p. 31, and v., 

 1910, p. 87. 



Pectoral disc siibcircular, longer tlian broad, its widtli r2 in its 

 length ; the snout and latei'al margins are broadly lounded, but tlie pos- 

 terior pectoral angles are pointed. Preocular length equal to the width 

 between tlie angular projections on the upper margins of the spiracles. 

 Eyes large, their bulge siibequal in size to the spiracles, and to half the 

 interspiracle width. Skin smooth ; a series of flattened spines on the 

 median line of the back extending backward almost to the level of the 

 posterior insertion of the pectorals; tliese form an iri-egulai* double row 

 befoi'e the slioulders, and tliei'e are one or two spines on each side of the 

 median sei'ies on the shoulders themselves. Width of the mouth 1-4 in 

 its distance fi'om the end of tlie snout. Jaws undulous ; teeth small and 

 tessellate, with flattened points diiected backwards; a series of larger 

 pointed ones on eacli side of the u{)per jaw. A fringed velum behind 

 the upper jaw, and two papillne behind the lower. Nostrils elongate, each 

 with a broad outer fold and a postei'o-inteiior valve; nasoral valve 

 emarginate and fringed posteriori}'. Posterior gill-opening well befoje 

 the middle of the pectoral disc. 



Ventrals elongate, their outei- angles produced and their posterioi' 

 jnargins rounded. Tail OH longer than the body, with two spines 

 inserted behind the middle of its length ; u[>[)ei' surfiice gi'ooved before 

 the spines bnt keeled behind theii* tips; .lower surface with a broad tin 

 extending from before the base of the spines to the tip, which is about as 

 broad as the tail above it. 



Colour. — Tan brown above, witli large blue spots iriegularly scattered 

 over the disc and venti-al fins, which are mostly darker than tiie ground- 

 colour in the preserved specimen though lighter in life. A broad blue 

 sti'i[)e extends along each side of the tail from the back to beliiiid the 

 caudal spines. Lower surfaces uniformly light coloured. 



* For No, o, see "Records." xii., pt. H. lyut. ]). 171, 



