372 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



THE HEDGE-HOG RAY. 



Raia erinaceus. 



PLATE LXXVIIf. FIG. 246. 

 Raia erinaceus, Hedgehog Ray. Mitchill, Am. Jour. Sc. Vol. 9, p. 290, pi. 6. (Male.) 



Characteristics. Pale brown, spotted with dusky. Two dorsal fins, and the vestige of a third. 

 Two series of prickles on the tail ; prickles on the pectorals. Length 

 seventeen inches. 



Description. Form rounded. Rostrum prominent, subacute. Head somewhat distinct from 

 the body, with rounded cheeks ; the margin posterior to this, concave; pectorals rounded. 

 Surface smooth, with several groups of prickles arranged in regular series. A group between 

 and in front of the eyes, extend to the tip of the snout ; the cheeks are also furnished 

 with several series of prickles. A triangular group on the back, with the apex between the 

 temporal orifices. On the pectoral fins, near the margin, are two rows of about twenty parallel 

 erectile prickles, and a large patch external to these. A double dorsal Series along the ver- 

 tebral line, and extending along the whole length of the tail, on the sides, where they are stiff 

 and stout. Beneath smooth, with the exception of a series parallel with the branchial aper- 

 tures. Body, when held up to the light, semi-diaphanous. Eyes large, oblique ; immediately 

 behind them, the large temporal orifices. Nostrils beneath, near the mouth, with short nasal 

 lobes. Teeth " associated, compact, sharp-pointed." Dorsal fins two, near the extremity of 

 the tail, triangular ; the anterior somewhat largest. Pectorals broad and rounded, almost 

 orbicular, with its margin elevated slightly above the inferior surface. Ventrals two-lobed, 

 deeply emarginate ; the posterior lobe largest. Male appendages cylindrical, five inches long. 

 Tail nine inches long, smooth on all sides, except the double line of spines above described. 



Color. Pale brown above, with numerous dark brown spots ; paler beneath. 



Length, 17-0. Width, 9-5. 



This species was described by Dr. Mitchill, and is diff'erent from any with which I am 

 acquainted. It might be confounded with the R. eglanteria of Bosc ; but that species has 

 the tail with " three or four irregular series with intervening smaller spines, and a small mem- 

 brane each side of its whole length." The R. desmarestia of Lesueur has a prominent snout ; 

 rounded and slightly emarginate on the sides, and three spinous series on the tail. 



The specimen described by Dr. Mitchill was taken off the coast of New-Jersey, in seven 

 fathoms water. Not having seen the species, I have adopted the description and figure of its 

 original describer. 



{EXTRA-LI3IITAL.) 



R. desmarestia. (Lesueur, Ac. Sc. Vol. 4, p, 100, pi. 4.) Many ranges of long curved points exterior 

 to the eyes, and on the pectoral fins; a range of spines e.xtcrior to the eyes, and along the vertebral 

 line. Snout elongate, obtuse. Teeth discoidal, surmounted by a point. Breadth 121 inches. Florida. 



