260 VERTEBRATE ANIMALS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 



CLASS ELASMOBRANCHII. SHARKS AND RAYS. 



Having a cartilaginous skeleton, no swim-bladder and a naked skin, 

 or one covered with plates. The skull is cartilaginous. The pectoral 

 fins are large. Teeth are invariably present. The eggs are few, large, 

 often laid within a leathery, tendrilled case, secreted by a large gland in 

 the oviduct. 



The class contains two sub-classes, the Chiniffiras, Holocepliali, which 

 have sub-terminal mouths, large fins, very long tails, and naked skins ; 

 and Sharks and Rays, Plagiostomi, which have inferior mouths, shorter 

 tails, and skin covered with large, placoid scales. The sub-class of the 

 Cluma^ras is undivided, but in the sub-class Plagistomi, two orders are 

 recognized, the Sharks, Squali, and the Rays, Raix. All are marine. 



This class' was more fully represented in the past than at present. 

 The American species are not well known. The members of the group 

 have but little commercial value in America, except among the Chinese 

 of the West coast. In Europe, however, skates are quite extensively 

 eaten. Sharks, especially those species known as dogfish, furnish con- 

 siderable quantities of oil. 



ORDER RAI.E. RAYS. 

 CEPHALOPTERID.E. 



DEVIL-FISH. Manta Mrostris, f Walbaum) J. and G. 



MYLIOBATID.E. 



CLAM-CRACKER ; BISHOP RAY. ^tobatis narinari, (Euphrasen) Miil'er and 

 Henle. 

 ? COW-NOSED RAY. Rhinoptera quadriloba, (Les.) Cuvier. 

 ? SHARP-NOSED RAY'. Mylobatis fremenviUei, LeSueur. 



TRYGOXID.E. 



BUTTERFLY RAY. Pteroplatea maclura, (LeSuear) Miiller and Henle. 



STING RAY. Dasyatis sabina, 'LeSueiin Goode and Bean. 

 ? STING RAY ; STINGAREE. Dasyatis centrurus, (Mitch.) J. and G. 

 ? SAY'S RAY". Dasyatis sayi, (LeSueur) Goode and Bean. 



