104 



SPOTTED RAY. 



HOMLIxV. TAILY. 



Baia oxyrinque, Lacepede. 



" miralettis, Donovan; pi. 103, but witliout tliose 



staring marks, from wliicli this fisli 

 has sometimes been called the Mirror 

 Ray; as if they formed an essential 

 character, which is not the case. 



" maculata, Jenyns; Manual, p. 514. 



" " Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 570. 



It is surprising that so common and well-marked a species 

 as this, should have been so little known and distinguished by 

 writers; I therefore join with ]\I. Jenyns in excluding from the 

 list of corresponding names those which perhaps have been 

 affixed to it; but which by having been applied to other species- 

 also, would only serve to increase the confusion. The con- 

 spicuous spots seen in Donovan's figure, and also in that of 

 Mr. Yarrell, are far more frequently found on other species; 

 and I know only one, the M. miraletus, which I judge to be 

 the young condition of the Shagreen Ray, in which they form 

 an important character. Some marks of their younger condition 

 remain with the Spotted Hay, and also with the Thornback 

 Ray, through the first year of their growth; about which time 

 they measure about fourteen inches in length. The caudal 

 portion still remains proportionally longer than at a later period, 

 and the third lobe of the tail is still wide along the base, 

 which has not yet contracted as it is afterwards found. The 

 spines on the disk are fully formed, but of less size than 

 afterwards, and the markings in both these fishes are more 

 regular and beautiful, although of course differing in each; and 

 indeed they are rarely alike in any two individual fishes. In 

 the Thornback the disk is sprinkled with ocellated spotb or 



