462 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
be found characteristic of Scyllioid sharks. No trace of them is found in older 
specimens. They strongly resemble the primary definitely placed spines of Raja, 
and have doubtless, as in the latter, some taxonomic value. 
Young specimens have the dorsal and anal fins occupying somewhat different posi- 
tions from that found in adults, and of different relative sizes. In a specimen 110 
mm. long the dorsals are very narrow, and the anterior dorsal is much farther back, 
being mostly behind the ventrals instead of terminating above their posterior line of 
insertion. The anal is very long, separated from caudal by a hardly appreciable 
space, and in front slightly overlapping the first dorsal. Ina specimen 240 mm. long 
the anal is still disproportionately long, separated from caudal by about one-fifth base 
of fin instead of one-half base of fin, as in adults. The first dorsal has apparently 
shifted forward, as it now terminates slightly behind ventrals. 
A male specimen, 430 mm. long, has the claspers projecting but little beyond the 
ventrals. It differs as follows from the original description: The distance from tip 
of snout to front of mouth is more than half the greatest width of snout. The first 
dorsa! is more posteriorly placed, extending behind the vertical from ventrals, the 
length of its base contained but 12 times in the space between dorsals. This poste- 
rior position of the first dorsal may be a case of retarded development, as the fin 
shifts forward during growth. The scales on side of tail are smaller and less 
crowded than those forming the upper caudal band, but are otherwise wholly similar, 
each possessing a strong central spine and a pair of shorter lateral cusps, and having 
the central portion deeply grooved. 
Family GALHIDA). The Requiem Sharks. 
3. Rhinotriacis henlei Gill. 
One specimen from station 3100, in 29 fathoms. 
Family RAJIDA. The Skates. 
4. Raja stellulata Jordan & Gilbert. 
Stations 3105, 3129, 3189, 3196, 3204, and 3208, in 200 tuo 218 fathoms. 
No series of young is at hand. In a single young male, 130 mm. long, there is no 
trace of spines or papille on the orbital rim, but those along middle of back are 
very large, as is also a large spine on each shoulder. The prickles are coarse, 
entirely covering the disk and tail above, none on the lower side. The prickles on 
sides of disk are in rows following the pectoral rays, those on middle of back are in 
length wise series, and those below eye are in rows parallel with its lower border. This 
serial arrangement of prickles I have noticed also in the young of Catulus xaniurus. 
In four larger specimens, 300 to 390 mm. long, there is no trace of ocular spines. 
Of primary spines there seem to be 3 or 4 behind the occiput, the most anterior 
occupying the position of the single postoccipital spine in #. inornata, and a series 
of 17 to 20 on middle of tail. The interspace on middle of back is apparently filled 
in later by 6 or 7 spines, which are just appearing in one of the large specimens and 
are smaller than the caudal series in all the others. No ocellated spot appears at base 
of pectorals, an ill-defined darker spot occupying this position in one specimen. 
5. Raja inornata Jordan & Gilbert. 
Stations 3106, 3115, and 3147, in 43 to 76 fathoms. The collection presents a very 
interesting series from unhatched young to adults, and throws some light on the 
development of the spines and on the early stages of fins and tail. 
The first spines to appear correspond exactly in position with those described 
below in Raja rhina. There are three definitely placed on the orbital rim, one occu- 
pying a median position behind the occiput, and a continuous series along median 
line of tail. The postoccipital spine can be always identified by its relation to a 
conspicuous short double series of pores. These series are curved, and each presents 
its convex side toward the middle line of the back. It is between the posterior 
diverging ends of these series that the spine in question is found. 
