NARKE DIPTERYGIA. 313 



ventrals blunted on outer angles, margin sinuous 



brown above, light spots; cream below; eyes minute 



imp.^nnis (page 315) 



Narke capensis. 



Rata sp. Gronow, 1763, Zoophy, 1, no. 152, p. 35. 



Raia capensis Gmelin, 1789, Linne Syst., 1, p. 1512; Schneider, 1801, Bloch Ichth., p. 360. 



Torpedo capensis Olfers, 1831, Torpedo, p. 23; Gray, 1854, Gron. syst., p. 13. 



Narcine capensis Henle, 1834, Ueber Narcine, p. 36, pi. 3, f. 1. 



Astrape capensis Muller & Henle, 1841, Plagios., p. 130; Gray, 1851, Chondropterygii, p. 108; Du- 



MERiL, 1852, Rev. & mag. zool., p. 280; 1865, Elasm., p. 522; Kner, 1867, Nov. fische, p. 419; 



GtTNTH., 1870, Cat. fishes Brit, mus., 8, p. 454. 



Disk wider than long, transversely elliptical, curve in front of snout very 

 broad. Nostrils and valves, mouth, eyes, and spiracles similar to those of N. 

 dipterygia. Teeth bands of moderate width, intermediate between those of 

 Narcacion and those of Narcine. Vent behind the middle of the total length. 

 Ventrals broad, broadly rounded on the outer margin, less angular than those 

 of N. dipterygia, claspers short, depressed, very blunt. Dorsal small, rounded, 

 base entirely above the ventral. Caudal of medium size, subcaudal the shorter 

 and broadly rounded. 



Colors variable; back uniform dusky brown, or brown with whitish spots; 

 lower surface white more or less spotted with brown. 



Cape of Good Hope; Madagascar. 



Narke dipterygia. 



Raia dipterygia Schneider, 1801, Bloch Ichth., p. 359. 



Torpedo dipterygia Olfers, 1831, Torpedo, p. 25, pi. 2, f. 2. 



Narcine dipterygia Henle, 1834, Ueber Narcine, p. 38. 



Astrope dipterygia MtJLLER & Henle, 1841, Plagios., p. 131; T. Cantor, 1849, Malay fishes, p. 419; 



Gray, 1851, Chondropterygii, p. 103; Dumeril, 1852, Rev. & mag. zool., p. 42; 1865, Elasm., p. 



523; Day, 1865, Fishes Malabar, p. 276; 1878, Ind. fishes, p. 734, pi. 192, f. 4; Gunth., 1870, Cat. 



fishes Brit, mus., 8, p. 454. 



In most respects closely resembling Narke japonica. Distinguished by 

 the ventral fins and the coloration. Disk subcircular; tail little longer. Base 

 of dorsal midway from the bases of the ventrals to the origin of the caudal. 

 Ventrals with an outer angle more or less prominent and with an indented outer 

 margin. In coloration individuals vary to a considerable extent. Cantor 

 describes one that was dark greenish olive above, with a large round whitish 

 spot on each side at the posterior margin of the disk; anterior half of the ventrals 

 whitish; a large round whitish spot above the end of each ventral, and a similar 

 one at each side of the root of the caudal; dorsal and caudal blackish brown or 

 black; beneath whitish. Day figures another of a dull reddish olive above, 



