42 



FISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



16. RAJA EGLANTERIA Bosc. 

 "Clear-nose"; Brier Ray. 



Raja eglanteria Bosc, in Lac^pfede, Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, ii, 103, 1800; Charleston, S. C. 

 Raja eglanteria, Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 71. 



Diagnosis. — Snout long, acute, translucent; lateral angles of disc acute; body covered 

 with sharp prickles, with larger spines about eyes, on snout, and on back and tail; teeth in 50 

 rows. Color: light brown, with numerous dark brown elongated spots, {eglanteria, from 

 eglantere, the brier rose.) 



Fig. 9. Brier Ray. Raja eglanteria. Male. 



This skate, which reaches a length of about 2 feet, ranges along the Atlantic 

 coast between Massachusetts and Florida. It has not previously been recorded 

 from North Carolina, although it doubtless occurs along the entire coast of that 

 state. At Cape Lookout, on April 22, 1904, the author observed numerous 

 specimens on the beach, and was informed that many are caught in the deep- 

 water gill nets set in that region. In allusion to their pointed, translucent snout, 

 they are called " clear-noses" by the local fishermen. No use is made of them. 



Family NARCOBATIDiE. The Electric Rays. 



Moderate or large-sized rays, inhabiting chiefly warm waters, having a 

 peculiar electric organ capable of giving a powerful shock to man or other animals. 

 Body broad and thick, skin smooth, tail short and thick with a fold on each side, 

 caudal fin with rays, 2-rayed dorsal fins, nasal valves confluent into a quadran- 

 gular lobe. Of the 7 genera, 2 are represented on the Atlantic coast of the 

 United States, only one, however, north of Florida. 



