PRISTLD^E. RHINOBATID2E. 39 



Eostrum intermediate in width between P. cuspidatus and 

 P. perrotteti, of about the same breadth throughout, and armed with 

 from twenty-five to thirty-two pairs of teeth, of mostly the same 

 number on either side ; they commence just in front of the base 

 of the snout, the posterior ones are much further apart than the 

 anterior. Teeth intermediate in size between P. cuspidatus and 

 P. perrotteti. Fins first dorsal almost entirely behind the ven- 

 trals ; second dorsal as large as the first, or larger, is situated 

 rather near to the root of the caudal, to which its posterior lobe 

 almost reaches ; caudal without a lower lobe. Colour sandy- 

 brown, becoming lighter beneath. 



Hob. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago ; attaining at 

 least 20 ft. in length. This species is perhaps more common in 

 the seas of India than P. cuspidatus. It is especially abundant 

 along the Mekran and Sind coasts, where it is much dreaded. 



41. (4.) Pristis pectinatns. 



Pristis pectinatus, Latham, Tr. L. S. 1794, ii, p. 278, pi. 26, fig. 2 

 (siiout) ; Day, Fish. India, Supplement, p. 811 (see synon.). 



Nga-tat-way, Burmese ; Khurra mach, Chittagong. 



Eostrum nearly twice as wide at its termination as at its base, 

 and armed with from twenty-four to twenty-seven pairs of , generally , 

 long teeth, not placed opposite one another. Fins first dorsal 

 commences opposite ventral, the second dorsal of about equal size 

 to the first ; no lower caudal lobe. Colour as in the last. 



Hob. Eed Sea and through the Indian Ocean. One 24 ft. long 

 asserted by fishermen to have been taken at Akyab. 



Family II. RHINOBATID^E. 



The disk slightly dilated laterally ; the rayed portion of the 

 pectoral fin not continued on to the snout. Trunk gradually 

 passing into the tail, which is thickened and has a longitudinal 

 fold along each side. Two well-developed dorsals, likewise a 

 caudal fin. No electric organs. 



These fishes are very destructive to marine Crustacea and 

 mollusks ; and are said to congregate in large droves. 



Geographical Distribution. Tropical and temperate seas. 



Synopsis of Indian Genera. 



Two dorsal fins, the anterior opposite the ventrals 1. RHYNCHOBATUS. 

 Two dorsal fius, the anterior situated far behind 



the ventrals 2. RHINOBATUS. 



