664 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY. 

 Family TORPEDINIDiE. 



Electric Rays. 



Body smooth, sharply marked off from thickish tail ; rayed caudal 

 fin ; longitudinal fold on each side of tail ; two dorsal fins ; spiracles 

 well behind eyes ; electric organs jJresent. 



TORPEDO, Dum. 



T. occidentalis, Stor. Crampfish. Torpedo. Numbfish. 



Mouth small, with pointed teeth ; first dorsal fin more than 

 twice as large as second ; edges of spiracles smooth ; color black, 

 with obscure darker spots. Atlantic coast. Not common. 



Family RAIIDiE. 



Skates. 



Disk rhombic, rough ; tail long, spiny ; pectorals extend to snout ; 

 ventrals large ; eggs laid in horny cases with two " horns " at each 

 end. 



RAIA, L. 



R. erinacea, Mitch, (eglanteria.) Common Skate. Hedge-hog Raj'. 

 Little Skate. Tobacco-box. 



No angle to disk at snout ; about fifty rows of teeth ; large, 

 close-set, hooked spines on front of pectorals ; middle of back 

 nearly smooth ; groups of small scales on each side of vent, in 

 females ; middle teeth sharp in males, blunt in females ; color 

 light brown, with small darker spots ; females larger. The 

 smallest of our skates ; abundant northward. 



" This species is rare. Dr. Mitchill found one on our coast, 

 which is the only specimen recorded as having been seen from 

 New Jersey." 



R. ocellata, Mitch, [diaphanes in part, Stor.) Big Skate Ray. 



Much like last, but attains length of three feet and has more 

 spines on back, and nearly one hundred rows of teeth. 



