70 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
electric organs. Skin more or less roughened with spines or 
prickles. Sometimes a caudal on tail, which is stout, rather long 
and with longitudinal fold on each side. Pectoral fins extend 
to snout. Ventrals large. 
In all cool seas, some species in deep water. A single genus 
with several species in our waters. 
Genus Raja Linnzus. 
The Skates. 
Key to the species. 
a. Middle line of back and tail unarmed in adult, with a row of spines in 
young; outline of disk before spiracles obtuse, without acute angle at 
tip of snout. 
b. Teeth about °°/s; small. ERINACEA 
bb. Teeth about °/»; large. OCELLATA 
aa. Middle line of back with a row of spines at all ages. 
c. Teeth about “/s; tip of snout acute. EGLANTERIA 
cc. Teeth about “/s»; tip of snout much produced. . eas 
Raja erinacea Mitchill. 
PLATE 2. 
Hedge Hog Ray. 
Body semi-diaphanous so that skeleton can be seen when held 
against light, especially snout and margins of pectorals. Head 
rounded. Snout a little pointed. Cheeks parting projections of 
curved form on sides of snout laterally anterior to eyes. Eyes 
half covered and elegantly curtained. Teeth in both jaws, asso- 
ciated, compact and sharp-pointed. Nostrils distinct, and con- 
nected with mouth through fissures to upper lip. Skin slimy, 
scaleless, beset with prickles in spots or patches. A patch in 
front of each eye reaching along inner orbit and occupying space 
between eyes. Two lines of spines from each ocular patch to 
tip of snout where they join with the form of an inverted V. 
Cheeks covered with prickles. Behind eyes on top of head an 
equilateral triangular patch of prickles with one of its sides back 
