210 THE STING RAY 



This species, like the rest of the Rays, feeds on Crustacea, flat-fish, and mollusks, and as 

 many of these creatures possess very hard shells, the Rays are furnished with a crushing mill 

 of teeth, which roll on each other in^ such a way that even the stony shell of a crab is broken 

 up under the pressure. It is notable that the teeth differ in the two sexes when adult. Those 

 of the female are flat on the top, but those of the male throw out a strong angular projection, 

 which is so arranged that the projections of one jaw exactly fit into the interstices of the 

 other, and the roller-like arrays of teeth bear a wonderful resemblance to the well-known clod- 

 crushing machine. 



The young of this and other Skates are produced from eggs, whose form is familiar to 

 every visitor to the sea-shore, where they go by the popular name of Skate-barrows. Their 

 color is black, their texture leathery, thin, and tough, and their form wonderfully like a com- 

 mon hand-barrow, the body of the barrow being represented by the middle of the egg, and the 

 handles by the four projections at the angles. The empty cases are continually thrown on the 

 beach, but it is seldom that the young are found inclosed, except after a violent storm, or 

 when obtained by means of the dredge. 



This species is notable for certain thorny appendages to the skin, which are profusely 

 sown over the back and whole upper surface, and among which stand out conspicuously a few 

 very large tubercular spines, with broad, oval, bony bases, and curved, sharp-pointed projec- 

 tions. Fifteen or sixteen of these bony thorns are found on the back. Along the spine runs 

 a single row of similiar spines, and at the commencement of the tail it is accompanied by 

 another row on either side, making that member a very formidable instrument of offence. In 

 point of fact, the tail is as formidable a weapon as can be met with, and the manner in which 

 this living quarter-staff is wielded adds in no slight degree to its power. When angered, the 

 Skate bends its body into a bow-like form, so that the tail nearly touches the snout, and then, 

 with a sudden fling, lashes out with the tail in the direction of the offender, never failing to 

 inflict a most painful stroke if the blow should happen to take effect. 



The color of the Thorn-back Skate is brown, diversified with many spots of brownish-gray, 

 and the under parts a/e pure white. 



THE family of " Sea Devils" embraces the most re i arkable forms of any. 



The SEA DEVIL, DEVIL-FISH, MANTA (Mania birostris), inhabits from the tropical 

 waters northward to the Carolinas, reaching the length, or width, properly, of twenty feet. 

 Dr. Mitchell records one that required the strength of three yoke of oxen to drag it. It was 

 estimated to weigh over four tons. Singular instances have occurred of this creature becoming 

 entangled in the anchor gear of small vessels, and actually towing them some distance before 

 the cause of the unusual movement was discerned. 



We have seen several of these monsters, feeding apparently on shoals of small fishes, in 

 the Gulf of Mexico. As they turned in the course of their feeding, the great pectoral flaps 

 were thrown upward out of the water, exposing a white under surface, and creating a great 

 commotion in the sea. 



THE COMMON SKATE, sometimes called the TINKER, is so well known that only a very 

 short description is needed. 



This fish is found in great plenty, and sometimes attains to a really large size, a fine speci- 

 men having been known to weigh two hundred pounds. The fishermen have a custom of 

 calling the female Skate a Maid, and the male, in consequence of the two elongated appendages 

 at the base of the tail, is called the Three-Tailed Skate. It is a very voracious creature, eating 

 various kinds of fish, crustaceans, and other inhabitants of the deep. 



The color of this species is grayish -brown on the upper surface, and a little reddish-brown and 

 black-brown are found on the edges of the broad fins. Below, it is grayish-white, over which 

 divers darker lines are drawn, and upon which are scattered a great number of bluish spots with 

 small sharp points among them. It is illustrated on page 207, together with the Eyed Torpedo. 



A FAMILY called STING RAY has seven species. Some of them are of great size. Terrible 

 as is the armed tail of the thorn-back skate, and severe as are the wounds that can be inflicted 



