30 Mindeskrift for J. Steenstrup. XXX. 



lives on the banks off Ja-deren in Norway; here it is taken in the months of May, June 

 and July in depths of 80 to 120 fm. In 1902 the present author had the opportunity on 

 board the Norwegian research-steamer "Michael Sars" to determine its occurrence 

 N. E. of the Shetlands and east of the Fteroes, in depths of 185 — 250 fm. Further, it 

 has several times been taken in recent years by the Danish research-steamer "Thor" in 

 the Skagerrak at depths of 275 — 350 fm. Probably it occurs still further south along 

 the European coasts, but it is not easy to see, whether any of the rays described by 

 English and Frencli authnrs imder other names are identical with the present. 



Raja spinicauda n. sp. 



I'l., figs. 1—5. 



Diagnosis. 



The snout forms a jiointed angle; its length lo a cross-line drawn Lhrough the centre* 

 of the eyes amounts to more than half of the breadth of the disc along the same cross- 

 line and is almost or quite 4 times as great as the least interorbital breadth. The lateral 

 corners of the disc form almost a right angle and are rounded al the tip. The under 

 surface is quite smooth. The dorsal surface is richly provided with quite small spines, 

 situated in particular densely along the mid line of the body and tail, of larger spines 

 there is only one row (21 — 26) along the mid line of the tail, and they are erect or but 

 slightly bent backwards. The colour in the fresh condition is blue-gray on the upper 

 surface, the free border of skin along the sides of the tail wliite; the under surface is milk- 

 white with dark-gray spots along the lateral margins of the pectorals behind the angles 

 and along the margin of the pelvic fins as also on the tail, especially the anterior part. 



Of this ray, which is new to science, 6 specimens were taken by the "Tjalfe" Expedi- 

 li(_in at southern West Greenland, partly out in the Davis Strait, partly in Tunugd- 

 liariik Fjord and Skovfjord in the northern j)art of the Julianehaab district. The fol- 

 lowing are the separate localities: 



a. St. 408. Davis Strait. 64"! 4' N., 55°55' W. 440 fm. ca. 3.8° C. 2.6. 1909. Trawl, 

 b & c. St. 565. Mouth of Tunugdliarfik Fjord. 125— 200 fm. ca. 1.7— S"" C. -30. 7. 1909. 

 Line. 

 (1. SL. 566. Mouth (if Tunugdliarfik Fjord. 125— 200 fm. ca. 1.7— 3° C. 31. 7. J 909. 

 Line. 

 e & f. St. 598. Skiivfjord, from Kingitok right across the nai'rowesl, place Inwards Ihc 

 island Igdlokasik. 120— 160 I'm. 1.7— 2.3" C. 13.8.1909. Line. 



The specimen a is a female 740 mm long with 26 doi'sal sjiines'): it is the specimen 



which has been figured in the plate, figs. 1 & 2. The specimen I) was a female 1390 



') In addition a spine in tlie distinct interspace separating ttie comparatively well-developed 

 dorsal fins. 



