REPORT ON THE SHORE FISHES. 11 



than deep, the lateral line terminating in a black-coloured keel. The length of the 

 head is less than one-third of the total (without caudal) ; its upper surface is broad, 

 flat, striated ; frontal bones diverging behind, leaving a broad space between them 

 which is covered by skin ; this space tapers in front, and is closed between the orbits. 

 Maxillary entirely hidden by the prteorbital. Jaws and teeth strong ; vomerine teeth 

 none ; tongue rough. The diameter of the eye is two-thirds of the -width of the inter- 

 orbital space, and two-fifths of the length of the postorbital portion of the head. Body 

 stout, not much compressed. Pectoral fin as long as the postorbital portion of the head. 

 Ventral fin midway between the root of the caudal and the eye. The middle and 

 hinder dorsal and anal rays subequal in length, short, the last terminating at a con- 

 siderable distance from the root of the caudal. Caudal fin deeply lobed. Scales very 

 small, irregular, and adherent. A single specimen, 3 feet long. 



Syngimihus pelagicus, Osbeck. Gulf weed. South of Bermuda. 



a TEMPERATE ZONE OF THE SOUTH ATLANTIC. 



1. Mouth of the Pao de la Plata. 



The fishes of this river, as well as of tlie shores near its mouth, are very incom- 

 pletely known, more so than those of the southernmost extremity of the Continent. 

 Therefore, we may well expect considerable additions to be made by future explorers of 

 this fauna ; one-half of the species collected by the Challenger Expedition at this locality, 

 on its homeward journey (February 25 and 26, 1876), have proved to be undescribed. 



Raja i^latana, n. sp. (PL III.). 



Snout long, produced, pointed, the width of the interorbital space being a little 

 more than one-third of the distance of the eye from the end of the snout. The anterior 

 profile (from the snout to the angle of the pectoral fin) is undulated. Width of the 

 interorbital space less than the length of the eye and spiracle together. J\Iouth 

 strongly curved. Teeth pointed, in about forty-eight series in the upper jaw. Distance 

 between the nostril and the angle of the mouth two-thirds of the inter-nasal space. 

 The outer pectoral angle is a right one. Distance between the two dorsal fins rather 

 more than the length of the base of the first. Bands of minute asperities alono- each 

 side of the snout, and along each superciliary' edge. The remainder of the upper side 

 is smooth, with the exception of tlie claw-like sjiines on the pectoral fin which are 

 peculiar to the male sex. A series of small spines along the median line of the tail. 

 Lower parts with large black pores symmetrically arranged. Upper parts uniform 

 brownish, lower whitish. 



