50 NEW YOUK STATE MUSEUM 



The ck'ar-iiosed skate, sometimes called brier ray, reaches a 

 lengtli of 2 feet or more. It inhabits the eastern coast of the 

 United States from Cape Cod to Florida; it has been found 

 moderately common in Great Soutli bay in au<l near Fire Island 

 inlet. Early in September both males and females were caught 

 at Fire Island inlet and Wigo inlet, but in October the species 

 appeared to be scarce. It has no commercial value in the bay 

 and is usualh" thrown away. 



At Woods Hole Mass. it is not common. A few are taken 

 every year in traps at Menemsha, Marthas Yinej^ard. 



20 Raja laevis (Mitchillj 

 Burn-doo)- Skate 



Raja lacris Mitchill, Am. Month. Mag. II, 327, 1818; Jokdajs^ & Evermaxx, 



Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 71, 1896; Smith. Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 89, 



1898. 

 h'iiin laevis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna. Fislies, 370, 1S42; Jordan & Gilbert, 



Bull. 10. U. S. Nat. Mus. 42, 1883; Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 266, pi. 



XXXIX, fig. 2, 1867. 



Similar in shape to li. e g 1 a n t e r i a , but larger and with 

 fewer rows of teeth. The length of the disk equals three 

 fourths of its width. The spines of the body are few and 

 small; small patches of slightly enlarged spines on the anterior 

 extension of llie j)ectorals oi)posite the eyes and spiracles; 

 slightly enlarged, hooked spines in several narrow rows on the 

 angles of Ihe disk in males; a median row, more or less incom- 

 jilete. of (lisliiiit spines on th6 tail and usually a lateral row on 

 i-.\ch side, nuiny of these lateral spines sometimes obsolete; 

 siii;ill spines on the snout, along the anterior edges of the disk, 

 :iii(l on ilir (op of ill,, iicad. Tail nearly as long as the disk; 

 iwo suImm|ii;i,1 dorsal fins, scarcely half as long as the snout, 

 sejar;iti(l liy ;i narrow interspace and extending to near the end 

 "f 111'- tiiil; no ciiiulal fin; eye one fifth as long as the snout; 

 iiKMiili Ijiigf. jaws curved, teeth in about 30 rows in each jaw; 

 length of clasiicis of Ihe male equals one third of the width 

 of Mic disk. Color usnally brownish with paler spots, these 

 soinctinns siirronnded bv dark rings. 



