CHONDROPTERYGII. 589 



Some of the species of the tropical seas grow to a great size 

 and are proportionally ferocious. 



The RAYS PROPER, Raia, include several species, some of 

 which are found on our coast, such as the CLEAR-NOSED RAY, 

 R. Diaphanes, (Gr. clear,) from one to three feet long, caught 

 with cod-fish, and sometimes eaten ; the PRICKLY RAY, R. Amer- 

 icana, from one to two feet long, (Plate XIV. fig. 11 ;) the SPOT- 

 TED RAY, R. ocellata. When captured, this species whips its 

 tail about with great activity, and hence has the name of Whip 

 Ray; the HEDGE-HOG RAY, R. erinaceus, length about eighteen 

 inches; the PRICKLY-STING RAY, Pastinaca, (Lat. sting-ray,) 

 hastata, (Lat. from hasta, a spear,) having two or more spines 

 or barbs in the tail, which is longer than the body ; the whole 

 length is from five to eight feet; this species is numbered among 

 the edible rays ; the SMOOTH SKATE, Raia lavis, in length from 

 two to four feet ; the THORNBACK, R. Clavata, (Lat. knotted or 

 thorned,) has large and numerous spinous tubercles. 



The EAGLE RAYS, Ceplialoptera, (Gr. head wings,) often grow 

 to an enormous size, specimens having been seen twenty-five 

 feet in length and thirty in breadth. One was taken at Barba- 

 does a few years ago, which weighed thirty-five hundred pounds 

 and required seven pair of oxen to draw it on shore! (Kirby.) 

 The Eagle Rays are nearly or quite as dangerous to man as the 

 Sharks. They are known to fishermen under the name of 

 "Devil Fish." The species C.vampirus,ihe OCEANIC VAMPIRE, 

 is from sixteen to eighteen feet in length. It is very powerful, 

 sometimes seizing the cables of small vessels at anchor, and 

 drawing the vessel for several miles, with great velocity. Pass- 

 ing by some other divisions, we must refer to the 



ELECTRIC RAYS, or TORPEDOES. Torpedinidce, fishes which have 

 long been celebrated for their electrical powers, while their shape 

 is so singular that they look more like gigantic tadpoles than 

 fish, (Plate XIV. fig. 13.) The head is entirely surrounded by 

 the pectoral fins, which give to it in some species, a completely 

 circular appearance ; the tail is thick, fleshy, and only moder- 

 ately long, terminated by a distinct, large, and triangular fin. 

 The electrical organs constitute a pair of galvanic batteries, 

 arranged in the form of perpendicular hexagonal columns, 

 placed on each side of the head and gills, the small cells being 

 filled with mucus. These fishes are less powerfully electrical 

 than the Gymnotus t but can benumb the arm of a person touch- 

 ing one of them* 



