Laguna Marine Laboratorp 27 
and three irregularly placed spines in front of these; a row of 
twenty-two spines along each rostral cartilage, ending opposite orbit. 
Above tip of the snout is a broad flap or tentacle, with five short 
lobes on its apical margin. Skin smooth, and mostly mucus covered, 
except on inter-orbital where it roughened with minute prickles. 
Outer margin of pectorals translucent, the rays plainly visible; 
rostral cartilages converging for most of their length, then diverging 
at tip, but nowhere confluent. Claspers very small, not reaching tips 
of ventral rays. In the other specimens the number of dorsal spines 
along the back varied from twenty to twenty-five in the series before 
the first dorsal, and also varied a little in the series around the orbits. 
Food—Stomachs of adults of this species all contained small 
Crustacea (crabs, shrimps, ete.), and a number of polychaet worms. 
No other food was found. 
Platyrhinoides triseriatus (Jordan and Gilbert). Hornback. 
Three specimens were secured in rather deep water off Newport, 
where it is reported common. 
Family RAJIDAE 
Raja inornata Jordan and Gilbert. Common Skate. 
A specimen seen at Newport was identified as this species. Its 
abundance could not be determined. 
Family DASYATIDAE 
Urolophus halleri Cooper. Round String Ray. 
Common at Newport and probably at Laguna, although no speci- 
mens were taken by us at the latter place. 
Pteroplatea marmorata Cooper. California Butterfly Ray. 
One specimen of this species was taken at Newport. No informa- 
tion could be obtained as to its abundance. 
Family AETOBATIDAE 
Aetobatus californicus Gill. Batfish. 
(Figures 3 and 4) 
Fairly common at Newport and Laguna. 
The following notes with accompanying figures were taken from 
a male specimen 470 mm. in length, and 790 mm. across pectorals: 
Measurements in hundredths of length. Tip snout to base ventrals, 
81; to mouth, 12; to eye, 5.5; interocular space, 16; width mouth, 14; 
length abdominal cavity, 49 (230 mm.); breadth same 28 (130 mm.). 
The backbone makes a deep ridge in the posterior dorsal part of the 
abdominal cavity, leaving a deep groove on each side in which the 
