270 Papers from the Marine Biological Laboratory at Tortngas. 



gradations of these could be found. The hinder edges of the fins were 

 fimbriated and were margined with black, having in front of the black 

 edge an ornamentation of spots, figures, and wavy lines. 



In the cephalic region the spots were smaller, but covered the whole 

 head, snout, and cephalic fins, and extended into the spiracles, covering 

 both walls and flaps. The dorsal fin was white edged with black, having 

 in front and along each side of the base a broad dark mass, and having a 

 dark bar on each side extending from above in front obliquely backward 

 and downward, dividing the white area into two regions, each of which 

 had a small, round, black spot in it. The under side of the tail was white 

 like the body, and on the sides, about a foot behind the last spine, were a 

 number of white spots as noted on the preceding fish. 



The above are all life colors. After exposure to the sun for some time, the 

 skin turned black and the spots became greenish and finally a faint pale blue. 

 No lines nor bands were at any time visible. For a figure of a spotted 

 sting ray showing markings similar to those above noted see figure 9, plate 

 V, from Coles's 19 13 paper. 



The foregoing diverse facts with regard to the color and markings of 

 Aetobatus tiarinari may enable us to understand the great differences in 

 color which have been recorded by the authors cited. It would seem that 

 there are four things to be considered in reconciling these differences: 

 (a) that there are great variations in the color of the fish ; (b) whether the 

 fish was alive or dead, and if dead how long; (c) whether the fish was 

 fresh or preserved, and if preserved in what and how long; (d) the age of 

 the fish as shown by its relative size. 



There can be no difference of opinion about the fact of great natural 

 variations in ground color and markings. My own observations on Beaufort 

 fish, made on five specimens (three of them alive) and on Coles's photographs, 

 and on four specimens from Florida, show that considerable diversity exists 

 in our form. That this is true for those in other waters is shown by the 

 quotations previously given from various authors. Further, there can be 

 no doubt that after death the color changes. My living fish were for the 

 most part brown in color, but after death showed a tendency to change 

 color, becoming dark or bluish. Preserved specimens in formalin all turned 

 bluish-gray or lead-colored, this being due to changes in the cuticle, for 

 when this was stripped off the general color was brown. Not enough data 

 have been collected to show what effect age has on the color of the ray, 

 but it is generally the rule that the older fish may be expected to be darker 

 in color. 



From the observations made by Mr. Coles and myself, it seems to be 

 the rule that in young fish the markings are regular, but that as the fish 

 grow older the spots become confluent to form various bizarre figures. 

 These are found mainly in the hinder part of the body, where possibly 

 growth is more rapid. Such irregular figures are noticeable on Coles's 

 191 2 specimens (see fig. 9, plate v) and on my largest Florida ray. 



