366 



THE PLAGIOSTOMIA. 



front of and behind each orbit, a few above the snout and others opposite the 

 eyes near the end of each pectoral; a median series, more or less interrupted 

 above the body, from the head to the second dorsal. Besides being more spinose 

 over the disk, the female and the young have one or more lateral series on the tail. 

 Tail slender, longer than the body, produced behind the dorsals. Total length 

 of the type 27, snout to vent 14^, and greatest width 22 inches. 



Brownish, spotted with lighter and with darker to nearly uniform, with a 

 bluish black ocellus near the middle of the base of each pectoral, and in cases 

 with a smaller one near the axils of these fins. 



South Africa. 



Raia smithii. 



Raia smithii Muller & Henle, 1841, Plagios., p. 150, pi. 49, fig. 1; Dumeril, 18G5, Elasm., 553; 

 GtJNTH., 1870, Cat. fishes Brit, mus., 8, p. 467. 



Disk rhomboid, length to width as 5 to 7, anterior angle obtuse, but snout 

 long slightly produced and pointed, anterior margins somewhat undulated, 

 outer and posterior angles blunted. Teeth in females with a pyramidal cusp 

 or pointed keel, in 28 rows. Back rough with radiate-based spines, except on the 

 body near the middle; orbital ridge with or without a spine in front; a series 

 of strong spines along the median line of back and tail, no lateral series on the 

 tail. Ventrals deeply notched, anterior portion narrow. Tail little longer than 

 the body; dorsals separated by an interspace with a spine. Total length of the 



type 21 inches. 



Dark brown above; white below. 

 South Africa. 



Raia nasuta. 



Raia nasuta MOller & Henle, 1841, Plagios., p. 150; Dumeril, 1865, Elasm., p. 572; GtJNTH., 

 1870. Cat. fishes Brit, mus., 8, p. 469; Hutton, 1872, Cat., p. 84; 1889, Trans. N. Z. inst., 8, 

 p. 276; Waite, 1909, Rec. Canterb. mus., 1, no. 2, p. 18, pi. 19, 21, f. 2. 



Raia oxyrhynchus Castelnatt, 1872, Proc. Zool. & acclim. soc. Victoria, 1, p. 224. 



Raia rostrata Castelnau, 1873, Proc. Zool. & acclim. soc. Victoria, 2, p. 57; Macleay, 1881, Proc. Linn, 

 soc. N. S. Wales, 6, p. 376. 



Raia scabra Ogilby, 1888, Cat., p. 17. 



Disk rhomboid, broader than long, sharp angled in front, outer angles 

 blunted, hinder broadly rounded. Or.tlines somewhat like those of R. stabuli- 

 foris, Plate 22, fig. 2. Snout produced, acute. Mouth waved, width half the 

 length of the snout; teeth sharp, in about 36 rows. Back rough with small 

 spines. On large specimens the disk is smoother near the middle and on the 



