HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 271 



materials, I have prepared a description and drawing." Yarrell in his generic charac- 

 ters of the genus myliobatis, which I had examined, speaks only of " a serrated spine " 

 upon the tail ; whereas, Dumeril, in his formation of the genus, says, " sometimes there 

 are two or more spines." My specific name, heretofore, was evidently untenable, — 

 and as Ayres published the first accurate description, his name myliobatis acuta should 

 undoubtedly be acknowledged. I have never seen a perfect specimen, and have there- 

 fore given Ayres' description and figure. 



Massachusetts, Stoker. Connecticut, Ayres. 



GENUS IV. TOKPEDO. Dum. 



The disk of the body nearly circular ; pectoral fins large ; two dorsal fins placed so far 

 back as to be on the tail ; surface of the body smooth ; tail short and rather thick ; teeth 

 small and sharp. 



Torpedo occidentalis, Storer. 



Tile, Cramp-Fish. 



(Plate XXXIX. Pig. 5.) 



Torpedo occidentalis, Storer, Araer. Journ. of Arts and Sciences, 45, p. 165, pi. 3. 

 " " " Synopsis, p. 516. 



Color. The whole upper surface of this species is of a dark brown, with a few almost 

 blade spots distributed over it ; beneath, white. 



Description. The entire length of the specimen before me, which is a female, is four 

 feet and two inches, and its greatest breadth is three feet. The globe of the eye, which 

 is circular, is an inch and a quarter in diameter ; the cornea is oval ; its longest diameter 

 is one half of an inch, and is directed obliquely outward ; its shortest diameter is three 

 eighths of an inch. 



The spiracles are oval and smooth at theiredge ; they are one and a quarter inches in 

 their largest diameter, and one inch in their shortest diameter, and are directed out- 

 ward and a little forward. On the anterior and inner surface of the spiracles, just 

 within the orifice, is a plaited membrane, the folds of which resemble somewhat the na- 

 sal septa ; the longest of these folds are next to the median line, and they gradually di- 

 minish in length as they recede from it. The mouth, when closed, measures six inches 

 across from the angles, and when opened to its widest extent, measures from the mid- 

 dle of the upper to the middle of the lower jaw, five inches. The teeth are numerous, 

 small, and sharp, — broad at their bases, and pointed at their extremities, like spines. 



