292 Dr. Mitchill on a new species of Raja. 



Tail thick and stout, like that of the skate ; and, measured 

 from the base to the ventrals, nine inches long Toward the 

 extremity it supports two fins, which are faintly radiated - 

 The foremost of these is jagged b hind with several slits or 

 notches: the hindmost has no such divisions. There is a 

 trace of a third fin, near the very end of the tail, in the form 

 of a neat film. 



Skin slimy and scaleless. It is beset with prickles in spots 

 or patches. There is a patch in front of each eye, reaching 

 along the inner orbit, and likewise occupying the space be- 

 tween the eyes. Two lines of spines proceed, one from 

 each ocular patch, to the tip of the snout, where they join, in 

 the form of the letter V inverted. The cheeks, or lateral 

 pouches, are covered with prickles, so as to bear some re- 

 semblance to whiskers. 



Behind the eyes, and on the back part of the head, ihej'e 

 is a patch of prickles, in the shape of an equilateral triangle, 

 with one of its sides backwards, and an angle forward. 



On each wing, or flap, is a patch of catspaw prickles, of 

 the retractile quality, mentioned in the definition. From the 

 moustaches, the skin of the flaps, along the edge, and for a 

 small distance beyond, is roughened by a set of more 

 minute prickles. 



Along each side of the back is a row of stiff and short 

 spines, proceeding towards the tail ; and smaller ones near 

 them, with a rather irregular distribution. On the tail they 

 are much more numerous, distinct, and strong ; distinguish- 

 able in two main rows, or lines, with a smooth scaleless and 

 spineless stripe between them, reaching to the dorsals. The 

 lower side of the tail, and the whole belly, are quite smooth. 

 There is a trifling roughness on a patch of each caudal ap- 

 pendage. 



Eyes half covered and elegantly curtained. Behind them 

 open and ample orifices, or ears Nostrils distinct, and con- 

 nected with the mouth, through fissures, to the upper lip. 

 Teeth, in both jaws, associated, compact, and sharp- pointed. 



The lower or belly side of this fii*h exhibits a bending, or 

 inflexion of the margin, all the way round to the ventral fins, 

 of siich a kind that when, even after death, it lies upon its 

 back, there is a rising, or rim, like that of a cup or basin, 

 capable of preventing the escape of water. 



A delineation from nature, by the hand of my friend, 

 Samuel Akerly, M. D. already well known for his researches 



