Game Fishes of the Colonies 405 



represented in Porto Rico by the " corvina," 

 Cynoscion jamaicensis. Many striking rays are 

 found about here, the list in all probability 

 being similar to that of Florida. One popularly 

 known as the eagle ray (SEtobatus) is a most 

 graceful and attractive creature, as I recall it, 

 literally flying ahead of my boat over shallow 

 lagoons on the reef, the back dark with vivid 

 light spots a veritable leopard of the sea. 

 Its side fins move up and down with a singularly 

 graceful movement, the fish appearing to fly 

 along. Trailed behind this birdlike creature 

 is a tail like a whip-lash, longer than the 

 extreme width of the fish, a most dangerous and 

 effective weapon. Just above its base are from 

 one to three spines set one above the other, and 

 about six inches in length, a quarter of an inch 

 in width, and closely serrated. One in my pos- 

 session, a souvenir of the adventure to follow, 

 is a very good saw if soft wood is employed. 

 If this creature could by any means be con- 

 sidered a game fish, no one capturing it would 

 gainsay it, as a more gallant fighter does not 

 sail the shallow seas, and as a ground and lofty 

 tumbler, a leaper of high degree, it holds high 

 rank. The leap is a most graceful movement, 



