342 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 
THE HEDGE-HOG RAY. 
Rala ERINACEUS, 
PLATE LXXVIII. FIG. 246. 
Raia erinaceus, Hedgehog Ray. Mircuiry, Am. Jour. Sc. Vol. 9, p. 290, pl. 6. (Male.) 
Characteristics. Pale brown, spotted with dusky. 'Two dorsal fins, and the vestige of a third. 
Two series of prickles on the tail; prickles on the pectorals. Length 
seventeen inches. 
Description. Form rounded. Rostrum prominent, subacute. Head somewhat distinct from 
the body, with rounded cheeks; the margin posterior to this, concave ; pectorals rounded. 
Surface smooth, with several groups of prickles arranged in regular series. A group between 
and in front of the eyes, extend to the tip of the snout; the cheeks are also furnished 
with several series of prickles. A triangular group on the back, with the apex between the 
temporal orifices. On the pectoral fins, near the margin, are two rows of about twenty parallel 
erectile prickles, and a large patch external to these. A double dorsal series along the ver- 
tebral line, and extending along the whole length of the tail, on the sides, where they are stiff 
and stout. Beneath smooth, with the exception of a series parallel with the branchial aper- 
tures. Body, when held up to the light, semi-diaphanous. Eyes large, oblique ; immediately 
behind them, the large temporal orifices. Nostrils beneath, near the mouth, with short nasal 
lobes. ‘Teeth ‘associated, compact, sharp-pointed.” Dorsal fins two, near the extremity of 
the tail, triangular; the anterior somewhat largest. Pectorals broad and rounded, almost 
orbicular, with its margin elevated slightly above the inferior surface. Ventrals two-lobed, 
deeply emarginate ; the posterior lobe largest. Male appendages cylindrical, five inches long. 
Tail nine inches long, smooth on all sides, except the double line of spines above described. 
Color. Pale brown above, with numerous dark brown spots; paler beneath. 
Length, 17°0. Width, 9°5. 
This species was described by Dr. Mitchill, and is different from any with which I am 
acquainted. It might be confounded with the R. eglanteria of Bosc ; but that species has 
the tail with “three or four irregular series with intervening smaller spines, and a small mem- 
brane each side of its whole length.” The R. desmarestia of Lesueur has a prominent snout ; 
rounded and slightly emarginate on the sides, and three spinous series on the tail. 
The specimen described by Dr. Mitchill was taken off the coast of New-Jersey, in seven 
fathoms water. Not having seen the species, I have adopted the description and figure of its 
original describer. 
(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 
‘R. desmarestia. (Lesunur, Ac. Sc. Vol. 4, p. 100, pl. 4.) Many ranges of long curved points exterior 
to the eyes, and on the pectoral fins; a range of spines exterior to the eyes, and along the vertebral 
line. Snout elongate, obtuse. Teeth discoidal, surmounted by a point. Breadth 121 inches. Florida. 
