8 



CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME. 



points is convex. When a straiglit line is drawn from the snout to the 

 outer angle of the pectoral tlie middle of the line nearly, or «piite, 

 touches the bodv. Ventral fins as described for the long-nased skate 



Fig. 7. Ventral fins of Raja inornata, show- Fig. 8. \"ential fins of Raja binoculata, 



ing the front edge of the ventral fin held at showing the front edge of the ventral fin 



a right angle with the tail making the outer held at a right angle with the tail, making 



edge concave. Fig. 9 shows the fin notched the outer edge nearly straight. Fig. 10 



as in normal position. shows fin concave as in normal position. 



(see fig 7). The rostral ridges are grown together along their front 

 half. Small prickles are scattered over the outer edges of the pectorals 

 and along the middle line of the back. Larger ones are on the snout 

 and between the eyes. Enlarged spines are around the inner edge of 



Fig. 9. The common California skate Raja iiwrnata. Adult female. 



the eye, and from 3 to 5 rows of them on the back of the tail. The 

 color is dark brown, with usually a small ring composed of irregular 

 spots at the base of the pectoral. 



This skate is known from San Diego to San Francisco and somewhat 

 northward, but has never been recorded beyond the California coast. 

 It reaches a length of 2^ feet. 



