FISHES OF NEW YORK 57 



very little projecting, so that the anterior margin of each 

 pectoral is slightly concave; tail two fifths to one third the 

 length of disk, with a slight dermal fold above and below, and 

 with one or tw r o spines very near its base or sometimes with- 

 out spines; eyes small and near the snout; spiracles large, near 

 the eyes; nostrils small, near the mouth, not extending to the 

 upper lip; teeth numerous, triangular, acute, each emarginate 

 at the base behind; ventrals short, broad and rounded, their 

 length less than one fifth of that of disk. Color brownish olive, 

 sometimes bluish, finely marbled with grayish, and finely 

 speckled; anterior edge of disk with blotches of paler; tail with 

 four dark blotches above, forming half rings. Cape Cod to 

 Brazil, common southward. 



The species is now rarely seen in Gravesend bay. It does not 

 endure captivity. 



Le Sueur's description was based on a specimen 6 feet 7 

 inches wide, taken at Newport R. I. He was informed by fisher- 

 men that it reaches the width of 15 feet. De Kay copied Le 

 Sueur's description and figure. 



Dr Smith says it is rare at Woods Hole, and appears in 

 August and September when present. It has the local name of 

 Angel fish at Woods Hole. 



Family 



Eagle Rays 

 Genus MYLIOBATIS Dume'ril 



Disk broad; pectoral fins ending laterally in an acute angle, 

 not continued forward around the snout, but ceasing on the 

 sides of the head and reappearing in front of the snout as a 

 fleshy protuberance (cephalic fin); tail very long and slender, 

 whiplike, with a small dorsal fin near its root, and one or more 

 serrated spines; teeth hexangular, large, flat, tessellated, the 

 middle ones much broader than long in the adult; several series 

 of narrower teeth on each side of the median series; teeth chang- 

 ing considerably with age; jaws about equal; free edge of the 

 nasal valve not deeply emarginate; skin smooth. 



