210 THE STING BAY 



This species, like the rest of the Bays, feeds on cnistaeea,, flat-fish, and molluslis, and as 

 many of these creatures possess very hard shells, the Rays are furnished with a crushing mill 

 of teeth, which roll on eacli other in such a way that e\en tlie stony shell of a crab is broken 

 uj) under the i^ressure. It is notable that the teeth differ in the two sexes when adult. Those 

 of the female are flat on the top, but those of the male throw out a sti'ong angular projection, 

 which is so arranged that the ]n'ojections of one jaw exactly flt into the interstices of the 

 other, and the roller-like arrays of teeth bear a wonderful resemblance to the well-known clod- 

 crushing macliine. 



The young of this and other Skates are produced from eggs, whose form is familiar to 

 every visitor to the sea-shore, where they go by the popular name of Skate-barrows. Their 

 color is black, their texture leatliery, thin, and tough, and their form wonderfully like a com- 

 mon hand-barrow, the body of the barrow being represented by the middle of the egg, and the 

 handles by the four projections at the angles. The empty cases are continually thrown on the 

 beach, but it is seldom that the young are found inclosed, except after a violent storm, or 

 when obtained by means of the dredge. 



This species is notable for certain thorny appendages to the skin, which are profusely 

 sown o^er the back and whole upper surface, and among which stand out conspicuously a few 

 very large tubercular spines, with broad, oval, bony bases, and curved, sharp-]iointed j^rojec- 

 tions. Fifteen or sixteen of these bony thorns are found on the back. Along the spine runs 

 a single row of si miliar spines, and :it the commencement of tlie tail it is accompanied by 

 another row on either side, making that member a very formidal)]e instrument of offence. In 

 point of fact, the tail is as formidable a weapon as can he met with, and the manner in which 

 this living quarter-staff is wielded adds in no slight degree to its power. When angered, the 

 Skate l)ends its body into a bow-like form, so that the tail nearly touches the snout, and then, 

 with a sudden fling, lashes out with the tail in the direction of the offender, never failing to 

 inflict a most painful stroke if the blow should happen to take effect. 



The color of the Thorn-back Skate is brown, diversified with many spots of brownish-gray, 

 and the under parts are i>ure white. 



The fanuly of " Sea Devils" embraces the most remarkable forms of any. 



The Sea Devil, Devil-fish, Manta {Mania birostris), inhabits from the tropical 

 waters northward to the Carolinas, reaching the length, or width, properly, of twenty feet. 

 Dr. Mitchell records one that required the strength of three yoke of oxen to drag it. It was 

 estimated to weigh over four tons. Singular instances liave occurred of this creature becoming 

 entangled in the anchor gear of small vessels, and actually towing them some distance before 

 the cause of the unusual movement was discerned. 



We have seen several of these monsters, feeding apparently on shoals of small fishes, in 

 the Gulf of Mexico. As they turned in the coiu'se of their feeding, the great pectoral flaps 

 were thrown upward out of the water, exposing a white under surface, and creating a great 

 commotion in the sea. 



The Common' Skate, sometimes called the Tinker, is so well known that only a very 

 short description is needed. 



This fish is found in great plenty, and sometimes attains to a really large size, a fine speci- 

 men having been known to weigh two himdred pounds. The fishermen have a custom of 

 calling the female Skate a Maid, and the male, in consequence of the two elongated appendages 

 at the base of the tail, is called the Three-Tailed Skate. It is a very voracious creature, eating 

 various Ivinds of fisli, crustaceans, and other inhabitants of the deep. 



The color of this species is grayish-browai on the upper surface, and a little reddish-brown and 

 black-brown are found on the edges of the broad fins. Below, it is grayish-white, over which 

 divers darker lines are drawn, and upon which are scattered a great number of bluish spots witli 

 small shaj'p jjoints among them. It is illustrated on page 207, together with the Eyed Torpedo. 



A FAMILY called Sting Rat lias seven species. Some of them are of great size. Terrible 

 as is the armed tail of the thorn-back skate, and severe as are the wounds that can be inflicted 



