Mcculloch. 11 



34. Narcixe Henle, Ann. Sci. Nat. ii., 1834, p. 31 (brasiliensis). 



34a. N. tas.yiaxiexsis. Little Numbfish. Id. Richardson, P.Z.S. 1841, p. 



22, and Tr. Z.S. iii, 1849, p. 178, pi. 11, 2. (PL iii.). 

 Very plentiful in the deeper water off the coast, and often taken by the 

 trawlers. Grows to a little over a foot long. 



XXI. Family Rajidae. 



35. Raja Linne, Syst. Nat. 10th ed., 1758. p. 231 (batis). 

 A. Upper surface smooth, with but few large spines. auslralis (35a). 



AA. Entire upper surface covered with minute spines. 



B. Snout produced, lower surface with minute spines. scabra (35b,. 



BB. Snout not projecting, lower surface smooth. nitida (35c). 



35a. R. australis. Commok Skate. Rata australis Macleay, P.L.S. 



N.S.W. viii. 1884, p. 461; Waite, Mem. Austr. Mus. iv. 1, 1899, p. 40, 



pi. 4. (PI. iii). 

 Grows to 19 inches long, and is common in the deeper waters. 



35b. R. scabra. Great Skate. Raia scabra Ogilby, Cat. Fish. Austr. Mus. 



I, 1888, p. 17. 

 A rare and little known species, reaching 5A feet in length. 



35c. R. xitida. Rough-backed Skate. Id. Gunther, Challenger Rept. 



Zool. i, 1880, p. 27, pi. 14, a. 

 A small deep-water species, growing to a little over a foot long. 



XXII. Family Dasyatidae. 



A. Tail long and whip-like, no caudal fin, 

 B. Tail with keels or folds. 



C. Dental surface of jaws straight or undulous, back more or less 



smooth, tail-folds narrow. Dasyatis (36). 



CC. Dental surface of upper jaw angular, back with rough scales, 



a broad fold below the tail. Pastinachus (37). 



BB. Tail without keels or folds. Himanatura (38). 



AA. Tail moderate or short. 



D. Disc subcircular, tail stout, caudal fin present. L'rolophus (39). 



DD. Disc very wide, angular; tail slender, no caudal fin. Pteroplatea (40). 



36. Dasyatis Rafinesque, Caratt. Gen. Spec. Sicilia, 1810, p. 16 (ujo). 

 A. Tail with a small fold above as well as below. 



B. Scapular region smooth, or with spines on median line only; 



upper surface with blue spots. kuhlii (36a). 



BB. Scapular region with a broad patch of tubercles; upper surface 



uniformly coloured. fluviorum (36b). 

 AA. Tail with a fold below, none above- 



C. Back smooth or with isolated tubercles. brevicaudatus (36c). 

 CC. Back with numerous tubercles. thetidis (36d) . 



36a. D. kuhlii. Blue-spotted Stixgaree. Trijgon kuhlii Mull. & Henle, 



Plagiost. 1838, p. 164, pi. 51, 2. 

 A tropical species once recorded from the Parramatta River estuary. 



