260 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
sibly a young female, with a very spiny tail. They were numer- 
ous April 29th, 1906, some reaching a weight of ro pounds 
or more, and the “saddles” being preserved by the fishermen. 
Mr. G. Z. Hartman, of Palermo, reports large examples nearly 
5 feet across, evidently this species, 
Family NARCACIONTIDZ. 
The Electric Rays. 
Trunk broad and thick. ‘Tail comparatively short and thick. 
A longitudinal fold along each side of tail. Snout not saw-like, 
blunt and broad. Eyes small. Mouth small. Anterior or nasal 
valves confluent into a quadrangular lobe. Electric organs pres- 
ent, large, and composed of many hexagonal tubes between pec- 
toral fins and head. Skin perfectly smooth. Usually 2 rayed 
dorsal fins on tail, first over or behind ventrals. ‘Tail ends in a 
rayed caudal. 
Rays of moderate or large size in most warm seas, and cele- 
brated for their power of giving electric shocks. They are said 
to pass through first a shark-like, then a ray-like and finally a 
torpedo-like stage in their development. The very young are 
furnished with long external gills. A single genus on our shores. 
Genus TETRONARCE Gill. 
The Torpedoes. 
Tetronarce occidentalis (Storer). 
Torpedo. Electric Ray. Electric Skate. 
Width of disk about 34) its length, very blunt or almost emargi- 
nate in front. Spiracles not fringed, their edges smooth. First 
dorsal more than twice size of second and inserted over middle of 
ventrals. Color almost unifom black, with obscure darker spots, 
on upper surface and white beneath. Length 5 feet. 
Only kittown to me from an example captured on a small king- 
fish line at Long Reach back of Peermont, Cape May County, 
