316 RAYS AND SKATES 



and the typical rays, and in reality it is a shark-ray. Its 

 eyes are atop of its head, its mouth is underneath, its body 

 in front of the dorsal fin is quite well flattened, and its pectoral 

 fins have "ray" written all over them. The maximum 



THE SAWFISH. 



length attained by it is said to be 15 feet. Because of the 

 long, flat beak of this creature, it has become associated in 

 many minds with the swordfish, but structurally the two are 

 as far apart as a deer and a bear. 



Notwithstanding the fact that there exists a group called 

 the Order of Flatfishes (halibuts, flounders and soles), the 

 rays are by far the flattest of all fishes. For example, the 

 Spotted Ray of Ceylon is about 5 feet across, 5 inches thick 

 at the centre of the body and at the edges its great wings 



