268 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



Pastinaca hastata, Dekay. 

 The Whip Sting-Hay. 

 (Plate XXXIX. Fig. 3.) 



Raia ccntroura, Prickly-tailed Sting-ray, Mitch-ill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y. I. p. 479. 

 Pastinaca hastata, Whip Sting-ray, Dekay, Report, p. 373. p. Go, fig. 214. 

 Tryrjon centroura, " " " Linsley, Cat. of Fishes of Connecticut. 

 " hastata, Dekay, Storer, Synopsis, p. 261. 



Color. Body, pectorals, and ventrals, light brown above, whitish beneath'; tail, 

 dark brown throughout. 



Description. Body ovoid, its lateral margins blending imperceptibly with the pecto- 

 rals, which, continued anteriorly, form with the snout an almost unbroken curve. Great- 

 est width of body, about equal to its length exclusive of the tail, and about five times 

 the greatest depth. 



Eyes oval, of moderate size, situated obliquely, the greatest divergence posteriorly ; 

 distance between them being about three quarters that to tip of snout, The temporal 

 orifices are large, just behind the eyes, the anterior edge coming to a line with their middle 

 point ; situated obliquely, in opposite direction to that of the eyes. Nostrils small, their 

 alee, large and projecting. Mouth moderate, transverse, curved anteriorly ; teeth ses- 

 sile and smooth. 



Surface of body without spines or projections, save a single row of large, irregular, 

 horny tubercles posteriorly. These commence on the median line of the back, at its 

 last quarter, and extend upon the tail. This organ, which is studded throughout with 

 similar projections, is long, flexible and tapering. At the end of its anterior fourth there 

 arise in succession, a pair of strong, elongated and pointed spines, flattened above and be- 

 neath and serrated upon their lateral edges. These spines are each received into a 

 smooth longitudinal groove when at rest. Their number undoubtedly varies. Dekay 

 speaks of three being present, — and in the specimen from which his description is drawn, 

 but one is present, although the stump of a second, the anterior one and its distinctive 

 groove, afford evidence of its former existence. 



Anus longitudinal, near the origin of the tail. 



The greatest depth of pectorals on a line with the temporal orifices. 



The ventrals are fan-shaped, emarginated posteriorly. The claspers are rather more 

 than one half the length of the ventrals. 



