THE CARTILAGINOUS FISHES 221 



takes the place of the dorsal fin. This spine is capable of inflicting 

 a severe and often dangerous wound, not only on account of the 

 laceration caused by the barbs, but from the apparently poison- 

 ous mucus with which the spine is covered. The Sting Rays are 

 represented by numerous species, chiefly inhabiting the tropical 

 parts of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, though some occur in 

 the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. A few 

 TvygonidcB live in fresh water, frequenting rivers and estuaries on 

 certain parts of the South American coasts and the southern coast 

 of North America. They often grow to a very large size, and 

 the caudal fin in the bigger species may measure 8 or 9 inches. 



The largest representatives of this tribe of fishes are the Eagle 

 Rays (Myliobatida), often called " Devil-fishes " on account of 

 their terrifying appearance and savage ways. In the tropics some 

 of these creatures grow to an enormous size ; one species (Cerato- 

 ptera vampyrus), frequenting the coasts of the West Indies, is 

 often 20 feet wide. The head of this alarming fish is somewhat 

 rounded, and the cavern-like mouth is furnished with pavement- 

 like rows of huge, flat, grinding teeth, with which it crushes up 

 the shells of the molluscs which form a large part of its food. 

 The pectoral fins stand out one on each side of the body like great 

 wings, and in front of the snout is a pair of horn-like appendages, 

 termed the cephalic fins, said to be used by the " Devil-fish " to 

 push food into its mouth. Altogether, this Ray is one of the 

 most fearsome monsters of the sea, and is greatly dreaded by 

 pearl-divers, who declare that it will envelop a man with its 

 huge, flapping wings and crush him to death in its terrible jaws. 



The species of Eagle Ray frequenting European waters are not 

 quite so large and alarming, and do not possess the curious cephalic 

 fins, though many are often of very considerable size. Myliobatis 

 aquila, an almost cosmopolitan species, occasionally visits the British 

 coast, and is said sometimes to measure 15 feet from tip to tip 

 of its pectoral fins. 



In the Elasmobranchs are also included the Chimaera, some- 

 times called " King of the Herrings," and the curious Harriott a. 

 The Chimaera is a somewhat shark-like fish, from 2 to 3 feet long, 

 with large pectoral and pelvic fins. The first dorsal fin is covered 

 with a spine, and the head of the male bears a club-like appen- 

 dage, or clasper. From its habit of pursuing the herring shoals 



