THE EAGLE RAY. 211 



by it, the Sting Ray is fiirnishe(i with a weapon even more to be dreaded, and (capable of 

 causing a still more serious injury. 



The tail itself of this species is long, flexible, whip-like, and smooth, so that were it 

 unaided by any additional armature, it could only inflict a sharp and stinging blow, which, 

 however painful, would do no more damage than tlie cut of a horsewhip. The tail is fur- 

 ther armed with a projecting bony spine, very sharp at the point, and furnished along 

 both edges with sharp cutting teeth. When attacked or irritated, the Sting Ray suddenly 

 strikes its whip-like tail around the offender in lasso fashion, and holding him tightly 

 against the barbed spine, wields the latter with siu-h strength and rapidity that it lacerates 

 the flesh to a frightful and dangerous extent, .in some cases even causing the death of the 

 victim. 



Along the coast, where the oft'ensive powers of this fisli are familiarly and practically 

 known, an opinion prevails that the bony spine is supplied with poison. This notion, how- 

 ever, is one of the many popular errors on similar subjects, having been founded on the 

 aggravated inflammation that sometimes follows the wounds caused by the Sting Ray. There 

 is no poison whatever in this bone, and any such symptoms are due, not to the inherent venom 

 of the weapon, but to the unsound constitution of the sufferer. 



The reader will at once perceive the exact resemblance between the spine of the Sting Ray 

 and the many-barbed speai's used l^y the savage inhabitants of the Pacific islands. In fact, this 

 spine not only furnished them with the original idea of those cruel weapons, but is constantly 

 taken from the fish and affixed to the shaft of a lance. In their eyes, its great merit — and one 

 which they imitate in their manufactured weapons — is that when the spear is struck into the 

 body of a foe, the jagged blade is sure to snap asunder at the point Avhere it enters the body, 

 leaving several barbs fixed in the wound without any handle by which they may be withdrawn. 



It is found that in the Sting Ray, a second spine exists below the first, which is provided 

 in order to supply the place of the first in case it should be broken off or dragged out. 



The Sting Ray is in some places called the Fire Flaire, probably on account of the very 

 red color of the flesh when cut open. This flsh is not approved for the table, being rank and 

 disagreeable in flavor. 



The color of the Sting Ray is grayish-yellow above, taldng a slaty -blue tint towards the 

 middle of the body, and spotted with bi-own when the creature is young. Below, it is white. 

 The eyes are golden color, the temporal orifice behind each eye is extremely large, and the tail 

 is very thick and muscular at the base. The spine is set aboiit one-third of its length from the 

 base. The mouth and teeth are small. 



The Sting Ray of our waters is the same as that of Europe. It ranges from Cape Cod 

 to Florida. In various places it is called Whip Ray, Clam-cracker, and Sting-a-ree, or Whip- 

 sting Ray. A large form is common off Long Island, with tail of five feet in length. 



In some respects, such as the long tail and doulile-barbed spine with which it is armed, 

 the Eagle Ray {MyUohatls aqulla) bears some resemblance to the preceding species, but 

 must be distinguished from that fish by the projecting head, the bluntness of the snout, the 

 very great length and comparative tenuity of the tail, the shortness of the spine, and the 

 diminutive size of the temporal apertures. In some jrtlaces this fish is called the Whip Ray, 

 in allusion to the extreme length of the slender taU. 



The flesh of the Eagle Riiy is not eaten, being hard, rank, and disagreeable, but the liver 

 is thought to be eatable, and a large quantity of good oil is obtained from it. It sometimes 

 attains to a very large size, weighing as much as eight hundred pounds. Its color is dark 

 brown above, deepening towards the edges, and grayish-white below. 



The Eagle Ray is a Mediterranean species, found occasionally in English waters. Its 

 great wing-like sides give it a resemblance to a bird. Its long tail and double barbed spine at 

 its base give it a most singular and vicious aspect. 



Before quitting these fish entirely, a short notice must be given of several interesting 

 species, of which figures cannot be inserted for want of space. 



