RAIA. FISHES. 389 



T. vulgarly, Cuv. The Torpedo. Body circular ; cinereous above, 

 marked by five large circular dusky spots, paler in the centre ; 

 under surface whitish. 2 to 4 feet long. Inhabits European 



seas Shaw, v. pi. 146. 



The other European species of this genus, the T. unimaculata, marmorata, and 



Galvanii of Risso, have been confounded with this species by most naturalists. 



Gen. 17. RAIA, Cuv. 



Disc rhomboidal ; five branchial openings on each side beneath ; 

 mouth below ; tail slender, with two small dorsal fins near its 

 extremity; teeth small, crowded, and in quincunx order; males 

 with hooked spines on the pectorals. 



R. clavata, Lin. The Thornback. Snout subacute ; body cine- 

 reous, rough with bony tubercles, each furnished with a hooked 

 spine, the dorsal row longest ; tail longer than the body, with 

 three rows of spines. 2 to 4 feet long. Inhabits European Seas. 

 B. Pen. Brit. Zool. iii. pi. 13, 14. 



R. radiata, Donov. Starry Ray. Snout slightly prominent, front 

 obtuse ; base of the spines enlarged, radiated. Inhabits British 

 seas . Donov. Brit. Fishes, pi. 114. 



R.oxyrhynchus, Lin. Sharp-nosed Ray. Body much depressed, 

 cinereous, with several pale or whitish spots and dusky streaks 

 above ; white beneath, with dusky spots ; snout prolonged, sub- 

 acute ; the row of dorsal spines extending along the tail, which is 

 short. 4 to 6 feet long. Inhabits British seas. Shaw, v. pi. 138. 



R. rubus, Lin. The Rough Ray. Body yellowish gray, variegated 

 with dusky or brownish spots, and rough with minute spines; spines 

 around the eyes and on the snout, and three rows of larger ones 

 on the tail. Upwards of three feet long. Inhabits British seas. 

 Donov. pi. 20. 



R. microcellala, Mont. Small-eyed Ray. Body above brown, with 

 scattered spots and lines, and rough with minute spines; snout ob- 

 tuse ; one row of small hooked spines on the tail, running along 

 the dorsal ridge to the head ; eyes very small. 20 inches long. 

 Wern. Mem. ii. 430. 



R. Balis, Lin. The Skate. Body brown or cinereous above, gray- 

 ish below; skin rough, but without spines, except a row on the tail. 

 Inhabits European Seas. Shaw, v. pi. 136. 

 This species attains large dimensions, some individuals weighing upwards of 200 



Ibs. It is spotted when young, but assumes in age a more uniform tint of colour. 



R. undulata, Lacep. Undulated Ray. Body pale gray brown above, 

 with numerous undulated dusky transverse streaks, whitish be- 

 low. Inhabits European Seas. Shaw, v. pi. 140. 



Gen. 18. TUYGON, Adans. Raia, Lin. 



Head joining with the pectorals to form an obtuse angle ; teeth 

 slender, united in a quincunx form ; tail armed with a den- 

 tated or serrated spinous point ; no fins on the tail. 



