TORPEDINIDA. — XV. aL 
20. RAJA (Artedi) Linneus. (Raia or Raja, the Latin name.) 
a. Middle line of back and tail behind shoulders, unarmed in adult, with a row 
of spines in young; outline of disk before spiracles obtuse, without 
acute angle at tip of snout. 
6. Rows of teeth about 30. 
25. R. erinacea Mitchill. Common Sxate. Tosacco-Box. 
Spines largest on front of pectorals; smaller ones on head, back, 
and shoulder girdle. Light brown, with round dark spots. L. 14 
feet. Smallest and commonest of our skates, from Va. northward. 
(Lat., hedge-hog.) 
6b. Rows of teeth about 29. 
26. R. ocellata Mitchill. Bre Skate. Similar to preceding, 
but much larger, and with additional rows of spines along the back 
and on sides of tail. Light brown, with dark spots; usually a large 
white ocellus with a dark centre on P. behind. L. 3 feet. Mass. N. 
aa. Middle line of back and tail with a row of spines at all ages; outline of 
disk before spiracles forming a more or less marked angle at tip of snout. 
c. Angle at tip of snout short, obtuse; teeth 433 body and tail with 
strong spines with broad stellate bases. 
27. R. radiata Donovan. A median dorsal row of large spines 
or bucklers ; others about head. L. 14 to 2 feet. N. Atl.; rather 
rare, S. to Cape Cod. (Eu.) 
cc. Angle at tip of snout acute, moderately long; teeth 505 no coarse spines 
or bucklers. 
28. R.eglanteria Lacépéde. Prickles small and sharp; a large 
spine on each shoulder. Brown, with darker bars and blotches. 
L. 2 feet. Cape Cod southward ; not common. (Lglantine, brier- 
rose.) 
ccc. Angle at tip of snout much produced, blunt; teeth 30 
29. R. levis Mitchill. Barn-poor Skate. Spines of body 
very few and small, on head and back; a row of larger ones on 
median line of tail; female rougher, as is usual among rays; snout 
very Jong, somewhat spatulate. Color brownish, with paler spots 
mostly ringed with darker. L. 4 feet. Va. N.; not rare. (Lat. 
smooth.) 
Famity XV. TORPEDINIDAS. (Tue Execrric Rays.) 
Trunk broad and smooth, the tail short and thick, with rayed 
caudal and usually two rayed dorsals, the first over or behind ven- 
trals ; a large electric organ made up of hexagonal tubes, between 
head and pectorals. Genera 6, species 15, found in most warm 
seas; noted for their power of giving electric shocks. 
a. Dorsal fins two; ventrals separate; ae placed nearly an eye’s diameter 
EMEA eyes sh it a 51% er! Star tao ORDO, 2h. 
