The Spotted Eagle Ray. 263 



nari, he notes that its spots are larger, farther apart, and hence fewer. 

 The average diameter of 50 spots on A . latirostris was 8 to 9 mm., of 100 on 

 narinari was 4 to 6 mm. (For other specific differences see page 315). 

 These points are clearly brought out by figure 8, plate iv, a photographic 

 reproduction of Dumeril's drawing, inspection of which will show spots on 

 the heads of both species. 



Day's (1865) Malabar specimen had a grayish-olive back covered behind 

 the head with numerous dirty-white spots with black edges. He un- 

 fortunately gives no figures. Dumeril says of A. narinari, in his "Histoire 

 Naturelle des Poissons" (1865): "General color brown, with small circular 

 spots of whitish-green bordered by black, regularly distributed and varying 

 in number." 



In 1867, the distinguished ichthyologist. Dr. Theodore N. Gill, described 

 an Aetobatus, which had been received by the Smithsonian Institution from 

 San Francisco, under the name A . laticeps. Its color was bluish black above, 

 interspersed with numerous fairly distinct whitish or yellowish spots, 

 smaller than the eye. These were smaller on the head and larger on the 

 body and behind towards the sides, and were somewhat ocellated on the 

 ventrals. The pectorals were margined with blackish, while on the best 

 Beaufort specimens the margin is whitish. Some of the Key West speci- 

 mens, however, had both margins. The specific identity of this specimen will 

 be discussed later. 



Gunther (1870), from a study of twelve specimens in the British Museum, 

 merely says that the upper surface, whose color is not stated, is generally 

 adorned with numerous round bluish-white spots. He decides that the 

 variations above noted are not specific and puts all forms into one species, 

 narinari. Later (1880), he continues the one species and adds that it may 

 be easily recognized by the numerous bluish-white round spots on the 

 dorsum, though reference to his drawing (text-fig. 2) shows that these are 

 lacking on the head and anterior part of the pectorals. 



In 1 87 1, Klunzinger redescribed the spotted sting ray of the Red Sea. 

 His specimen was grayish-black on the dorsal surface and everywhere 

 (except on the head) there were round white spots, rather few in number, 

 Ruppell's ray from the same waters, it will be remembered, was dark olive 

 above with white spots all over the dorsum. 



Day's (1878) Indian specimens (localities not noted) were grayish-olive, 

 sometimes greenish-olive or leaden-gray, and were generally covered behind 

 the head with dirty-white or bluish spots edged with black. To this de- 

 scription is added the interesting statement that in immature forms the 

 upper parts are a deep lead color and that the spots are hardly visible. 



Chronologically Jordan and Gilbert (1882) come next, but as their 

 description is identical with that found in Jordan and Evermann (1896),. 

 which will be discussed at length later, consideration of it will be deferred. 



In 1895 Henshall described a specimen from the west coast of Florida 

 under the name Stoasodon narinari. It was dark brown abo^•e and thickly 

 covered with white spots, about half an inch in diameter. 



