Tl«E RAYi y^ 



Section III. 



Gen, VI. The Ray, 



1 HIS genus IS eafily dlllinguiftied from all other kinds 

 of filh, by a broad, flat, and thin conformation. The 

 five branchial apertures on each fide, are placed under the 

 animal ; they Vv'ant the bony cpercula, and are marked 

 by the fame peculiarities, that diflinguifii the other car- 

 tilaginous tribes. The mouth, in all the filhes of thi^ 

 genus, is fituated quite below the head j while the body 

 of the greater number is befet vvith fpines or prickles, 

 refembling thofe on the branch of a thorn, a circum- 

 llance from which they obtamed their ancient name *; 

 that of ray, which we now apply to the genus, is derived 

 fi"om the latin. 



This genus comprehends all the rays, thornb?cks, and 

 flairs, or fl-iates, which are diilinguifhed by manners as 

 lingular as their external form, IVUloughly has de- 

 fcribed fourteen diflTerent foecies, and Linnaus nine ; of 

 which no lefs than eight frequent the BritiJIj coafts f. 



N 3 With 



* BaWj, which Cgnifies die berry that grows upon a prickly ^li^) 

 •?"i>(e Gelher. 



t Syftcma Nat. and Britilh iJooJ» 



