518 PISCES (CARTILAG.) PLAGIOSTOMI. [RAIA. 



(43.) R. Miraletus, Don. Brit. Fish. vol. v. pi. 103. Turt. Brit. 

 Faun. p. ill. R. oculata, Flem. Brit. An. p. 172. 



This is probably nothing more than the ocellated variety of the R. macu- 

 lata already alluded to. As such it was regarded by Montagu*. Blain- 

 ville, however, makes it the same as his .R. Speculum^. Procured by 

 Donovan in the London market, and supposed to have come from the 

 coast of Sussex. 



(44.) Rough Ray, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. in. p. 85. Id. (Edit. 1812.) 

 vol. in. p. 115. 



" Length from the nose to the tip of the tail two feet nine inches : the 

 tail almost of the same length with the body. Nose very short : before 

 each eye a large hooked spine, and behind each another, beset with lesser. 

 Upper part of the body of a cinereous brown colour, mixed with white, 

 and spotted with black ; and entirely covered with small spines. On the 

 tail three rows of great spines ; all the rest of the tail irregularly beset 

 with lesser. The fins, and under side of the body, equally rough with 

 the upper. Teeth flat and rhomboidal." PENN. 



This species was taken by Pennant in Loch Broom, in the shire of Ross. 

 It is doubtful whether it be distinct from all those already described. 

 Blainvitle appears to consider it as his R. Rubus, but the " flat rhomboidal 

 teeth" seem rather at variance with the characters which he ascribes to 

 those of that species. 



(45.) R. Cuvieri, Lacep. Hist. Nat. des Poiss. torn. i. p. 141. pi. 7. 

 f. 1. Neill in Wern. Mem. vol. i. p. 554. Flem. Brit. An. p. 172. 

 Cuvier Ray, Penn. Brit. Zool. (Edit. 1812.) vol. in. p. 124. 



This supposed species, which was first noticed by Lacepede, was ob- 

 tained by Mr. Neill, in a single instance, on the Scottish coast in 1808. 

 Its distinguishing character consists in the first dorsal fin being on the 

 middle of the back. Cuvier J, however, regards it as nothing more than 

 an accidental variety, or rather monstrosity, observed by him in more than 

 one species. Blainville speaks with confidence as to Lac6pede's fish 

 being nothing more than a variety of the R. clavata. As tending to con- 

 firm this opinion, it is worth noticing that Mr. NeilFs specimen is said to 

 have been obtained from among a large cargo of Thorn-Backs. 



(3. TRYGON, Adam.) 



207. R. Pastinaca, Linn. (Sting-Ray.) Back 

 smooth. 



R. Pastinaca, Linn. Sy&t. Nat. torn. i. p. 396. Block, Ichth. pi. 82. 

 Don. Brit. Fish. vol. v. pi. 99. Turt. Brit. Faun. p. 112. 

 Elaine. Faun. Frang. p. 35. pi. 6. Pastinaca marina, Will. Hist. 

 Pise. p. 67. tab. C. 3. Trygon Pastinaca, Flem. Brit. An. p. 170. 

 Sting-Ray, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. HI. p. 95. Id. (Edit. 1812.) 

 vol. in. p. 125. Pastenague commune, Cuv. Reg. An. torn. n. 

 p. 399. 



LENGTH. From two to three feet; rarely more. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Disk of the body more approaching to orbicular 

 than in the last sub-genus; very thick and convex in the middle, but 

 growing thin towards the edges : the transverse diameter scarcely more 

 than one-fourth greater than the length measured from the end of the 

 snout to the vent: snout sharp, but very short, scarcely projecting beyond 



* Wern. Mem. vol. 11. p. 429. t Faun. Fran?, p. 29. pi. 4. f. 1. 



t Reg. An. torn. n. p. 399. Faun. Frans. p. 35. 



