EA(ir-K-I!AV. 



109; 



to BdSArAKTK, ;i weiglit of oOO Italian pounds (about ' according to Scui.kciki,", at 400 iiouiids (about 180 kilo.)- 



100 Icilo.), and the Japanese form, GCntiier's Mylio- 

 batis cornuta, which is probably identical in species 

 with the Atlantic form, sometimes turns the scale, 



The genus belongs properly to the ti-ojiical and sub- 

 tropical seas; but one species has strayed northwards 

 within the limits of the Scandinavian fauna. 



THE EAGLE-RAY (sw. 6rnrockan). 

 MYLIOBATIS AQUILA. 



Fig. :!ii. 



Molars in the middle row tvithin the jaws of adult specimens 4 — 6 times as broad as long. Tip of the snout 

 blunt, with a small, prominent protuberance at the middle. A more or less distinct similar protuberance on the 

 front of the upjter orbital margin in the males. Anterior margin of tlic jx-ctorfd fins convex, posterior margin 

 concave, tip somewhat obtuse. Beginning of the dorsal fin situated about three times the length of its base behind 

 the insertions of the ventral fins. Length of the tail at least equal to the breadth of the body between the tips 

 of the pectoral fins or greater. Skin quite smooth or roughened with spinuhe only at the root of the tail. Colora- 

 tion above brownish green or yeUowish gray with a bronze lustre, below of a dirty white or grayish brown. Tips 

 of the pectoral fins dark. Young sometimes spotted with irkite. Faint traces of dark transverse bands sometimes 



present an the dorsal side. 



Fig. 311. An Eagle-Kay, Myliobntis aquila. 0^, ',5 of tlie natural size. From tlic Museum Adolpbi Frideriei. 



Syn. '^Eicg, Aristot.. Am'm. Hist., lib. V, cap. y. Aigte de mer 

 {Aquila marina), Belon., Nat., Divers. Poiss., p. 85. <!)'«- 

 cunda Pastinaca: species. Rondel., Pise. .Mar., p. 338. 

 Aquila, Salv., Hist, aquat. atiim., p. 147. fiaja corpore 

 glabro, aculeo longo serrato in eauda pinnata; AitT., Ichth. 

 Gen., p. 72; Sunon., p. 100. 

 Raja aquila, Lin., Hy-it. .Va^, ed. X, toni. I, p. 232 ; Civ. 

 (Myliobatis, ex Dl'M.), 1. c; Johnst. (Raia), Proc. Berwicksh. 

 Nat. CI., Sept. 1839 (vide Yark., Brit. Fish., ed. 2, vol. II, 

 p. 592); Mill., Henl. (Myliobatis), Syst. Beschr. Plagiost., 

 p. 170; Dt)M., Hist. Nat. Pniss. (su. a Buff.), torn. I, p. 

 634; Gtur, Oat. Brit. Mas., Fish., vol. VIII, p. 489; Mor., 

 Hist. Nat. Poiss. Fr., torn. I, p. 442; Coll., Forh. Vid. 

 Selsk. Chruia 1882, No. 29; Day, Fish. Gt. Brit., Irel., vol. 



II, p. 352. tab. CLXXyi; Doderl., Man. Ittiol. .\fedit., 

 fasc. Ill, p. 234: Lillj., Sv., .Vory. Fisk:, vol. III. p. 534. 

 Myliobatis noctula. Bonap., Iconogr. Fna Ital., toni. Ill, Pesci, 

 tav. 159. 



The Eagle-ltay attains a lengtli of 1' ., ni. or more. 

 According to Bonai'akti:, however, it is commonly 

 smaller than its Mediterranean congener Myliobatis bo- 

 vina, which is ciiaracterized by a more pointed and 

 more elongated snout and more pointed pectoral fins. 

 The rhombic disk is remarkable for its great breadth, 

 which is sometimes more tliau twice its length. The 



" Myliobatis aquila in Sieb., Fna Japon., Pisces, p. 310, tab. CXLII. 

 candinavian Fishes. 



