36 CBONDR01-TEBYOII. BATOIDEl. 



Synopsis of Indian Families. 



I. A flattened snout, having lateral teeth, ren- 

 dering it saw-like. Trunk passing gra- 

 dually into the tail Pristidae. 



II. Pectoral fins not continued to the snout. 

 Trunk gradually passing into the tail, 

 which has two dorsals and a caudal fin Rhinobatidae. 



III. Trunk a broad smooth disk. Usually dorsal 



and caudal fins. An electric organ Torpedinidae. 



IV. Trunk a broad and generally a rough disk. 



Pectoral fins extend on to the snout. A 

 fold along each side of the tail ; no serrated 



caudal spine. No electric organ : Raiidae. 



V. Pectoral fins extend on to and are confluent at 

 the snout. No fold along side of tail, which 

 latter is usually armed with a serrated 



spine Trygonidae. 



VI. Pectoral fins do not extend on to the side of 

 the head; snout with a detached pair of 

 fins ,. Myliobatidae. 



Family I. PRISTID.E. (Saw-fishes.) 



Snout much produced, flattened, and having a saw-like appearance, 

 due to the existence of large teeth on its lateral edges. Trunk 

 passing gradually into the tail. 



The endoskeleton of a tooth of the saw of one of these fishes 

 consists of from three to five hollow tubes, tapering towards their 

 extremity, and covered with an osseous deposit which is perforated 

 with fine holes. The teeth vary both in size and number in the 

 same species, rendering them unsuitable as specific, but admissible 

 as individual distinctions. 



Great injuries can be inflicted by these fishes, which strike side- 

 ways with their formidable snouts : and although not personally a 

 witness to the fact, I have been informed on native authority that 

 large ones have been known to cut a bather completely in two. Tbe 

 largest example I saw was off tbe coast of Sind (Pristis zysron) ; it 

 measured over 16 feet, the rostrum being 4 ft. 2 in. in length. A 

 P. cuspidatus, 14 feet long, captured at Calicut, was found to have 

 a liver weighing 185 lb., which was taken to the oil-factory when 

 I was present. 



At (xwadur, on the Mekran coast, 1 found that the fishermen of 

 all religions presented the saws of these fishes at a small temple, 

 where they were hung up inside or piled round the outside. The 

 priest was expected to pray for success for the fishermen in their 

 takes and a safe return to shore. At the Andamaii Islands the 

 aborigines wishing to make a suitable offering to their superinten- 

 dent, attacked an enormous saw-fish, which they harpooned, and 

 eventually secured at the risk of their lives. They presented him 

 with the rostrum, which I now possess. 



Geographical Distribution. Seas of tropical and temperate regions. 



