YOUNG SKATED 121 



The eyes are these knobs just in front of the spiracles ; 

 or rather these are the orbits, the pupil looking side- 

 ways and somewhat downward. If you use the lens 

 again, you perceive that there is a singular protection 

 to the pupil in the form of a fan-like array of about a 

 dozen stiff points arching over it. 



The general form of the fish is beautifully symmetrical; 

 it is nearly a rhomboid, with the two front sides slightly 

 excavated, and the two posterior sides convex. At the 

 point where these latter unite, there are two smaller fins 

 (the ventrals), and the body is continued very slender to 

 a considerable length, tapering to a point, near which 

 two upright dorsals are placed. The pectorals, as in all 

 this tribe, are of enormous size, forming the lateral angles 

 of the rhomboid, and extending in front of the head to 

 the tip of the snout. 



The colours are beautiful, but not at all gaudy. A 

 warm olive brown is the ground hue, on which numer- 

 ous roundish black spots, with softly blending outlines, 

 are set in symmetrical patterns, and there are also rows 

 of pale spots. This combination of hues is elegant. The 

 slender prolongation of the body is edged with a narrow 

 stripe of pure white. The colour of the whole under 

 surface is richly iridescent, like mother-of pearl. 



At present we see only a few of the curved spines 

 appearing, chiefly in the vicinity of the eyes, which 



