GENERA AND SPECIES. 127 



patch of spines from which runs a double row to the tail, along 

 which the two rows continue as four. In colour the under surface 

 is white, generally with a dark margin ; the upper surface is 

 brownish yellow, and on each wing is a roundish black blotch with 

 yellow spots and short streaks. In length this species attains 3 

 feet. 



The Painted Ray has 2 dorsals, equal in size, lobed in shape, and 

 rather wide apart. The disk is undulated in front, rounded at the 

 angle, and convex behind. There is only one row of spines down 

 the tail, and this begins in the lower half of the back. The teeth 

 are flattened in the females and pointed in the males. In colour 

 this species is grey above, striped and blotched with white and 

 brown ; below it is white. In length it is about 33 inches. 



The Thornback has the 2 dorsals with one or two spines between 

 them, and a small caudal contiguous to the second dorsal. There 

 are spines along the back and tail, and the surface generally is 

 spiny and tubercular above, and occasionally so below. The disk is 

 waved in front, concave behind, the greatest breadth being half 

 way- The mouth is curved. The colour is mottled brown with, 

 in some cases, a white blotch on the wings ; the under surface is 

 white. In length this species runs to 36 inches; it is found in 

 shallower water than the others, and feeds voraciously on anything 

 that swims. 



Raniceps. Plate xviii. GADIDM. 



141. raminus, LESSER FORKBEARD. Head flat and fleshy; barbule 

 small ; first dorsal rudimentary. 



The first dorsal is inconspicuous, and has but 3 rays, the second 

 has from 65 to 67 rays, and extends in a gentle curve almost to the 

 tail ; the anal has from 57 to 60 rays, the caudal 35, the pectorals 20 

 to 23, and the ventrals 6. The head is broad ; the mouth large, ex- 

 tending behind the eye ; the body bulky in front, tapering to the 

 round caudal. In colour it is purplish brown above, whitish below, 

 the lips being white. The le-ngth is a foot or less. 



Regalecus. Plate xiii. TRACHYPTERID^E. 



103. banksii, RIBBON FISH. Front rays of dorsal forming a tall 

 crest ; ventrals represented by a long spine. 



The fore end of the dorsal consists of some 10 to 15 rays, 

 beginning over the eyes and highest in front, curving forwards and 

 upwards, not unlike the crest of a cockatoo, the membrane extending 

 no further up than the first third, and continuing at the same level 

 all along the back, the number of rays ranging from 226 to 290 ; 

 there is no anal fin, and there is no caudal ; in the small pectorals 

 are n rays; and each ventral is represented by a spine, which is 

 about a third as long as the fish. The body is long and flat, and 

 the back and abdomen are very slightly curved ; it is covered with 

 small deciduous scales and bony tubercles, and there are four ridges 

 above the lateral line. In colour it is silvery, with spots and streaks ; 





