374. NEW-YORK FAUNA. 
The branchial apertures disposed in an oblique series, approaching each other behind; the 
posterior pair six inches apart. Vent longitudinally oval, an inch anda half long. Liver 
large, and composed of two large unequal lobes. Flesh firm, white and flaky. Pectoral fins 
broadly rounded. Ventrals broader than long; the outer margin concave, wider than the 
base; at their junction beneath the tail, there is a rounded emargination. 
Color, of the body and base of the tail, a uniform olive brown; beneath white ; under side 
of the tail dark brown. © Eyes light grey. 
Length of the body, 36°5. Width, 42-0. 
Length of the tail, 61°0. | Weight, 110 pounds. 
This description is taken from a female captured in September, off the coast of Rhode- 
Island, by Mr. Carson Brevoort of this city. I am indebted to him for an excellent figure 
made on the spot. On the plate, we have annexed the figure of one of those black horny 
cases which are often scen along the coast; and as they are empty, they have been jocularly 
named Sailor’s purses. They are excluded from the female ray or skate, and contain the 
embryo. 
Remarkable as the Whip Sting-ray is for its size, it appears to have been overlooked by 
our naturalists, unless it may have been the R. centroura of Mitchill described above. It has 
probably been supposed identical with the Common Sting-ray of Europe.* Schepff merely 
remarks that he “noticed two different kinds of skate at Rhode-Island, neither of which 
“ exactly agrees with the species described by Linneus, but I neglected to describe them 
“ particularly.” 
Mr. Brevoort informs me that they appear to associate together, as he noticed many of 
similar size and appearance swimming about at the same time. They moved slowly together 
through the water, along the edges of the rocks, about three feet below the surface. When 
captured, this individual whipped its tail about with great activity in all directions. It receives 
the common name of Whip Ray from this circumstance, although the name is also applied to 
another species, which I have not been so fortunate as to obtain. 
* The Sting-ray of Europe, P. vulgaris or Trygon pastinaca, Tail equaling in length the transverse diameter of the body, 
with a single spine. Smooth above, except along the central line of the back, and on the upper and posterior part of 
the pectoral fins, where there is a serics of rudimentary tubercles under the skin, Snout sharp, but very short; 
scarcely projecting beyond the pectorals, ete. etc, It is, moreover, a smaller species than the one above described, 
