EOKDKHED RAY. 427 



of this species, taken from a specimen obtained at Wcy- 

 mouth by Professor Henslow. 



" Total length fifteen inches six lines : length of the 

 head from the end of the snout to the spiracles behind the 

 eyes, three inches six lines ; of the tail from the vent to its 

 extremity, seven inches nine lines : greatest breadth across 

 the pectorals, eleven inches three lines. The total length 

 of M. de Blainville's specimen was two feet. The form 

 rhomboidal ; the transverse diameter rather more than one- 

 third greater than the length from the end of the snout to 

 the vent : snout elongated, projecting considerably from 

 between the pectorals, terminating in a sharp point, with 

 the lateral margins nearly parallel for the last quarter of 

 their length : mouth moderately wide ; jaws transverse ; 

 teeth numerous, closely set, in several rows, roundish or 

 somewhat quadrilateral at the base, each terminating in a 

 sharp point : nostrils in a line with the corners of the mouth, 

 and rather more than half-way between them and the upper 

 margins of the pectorals ; a channel from the nostrils to the 

 mouth, covered by a membranous flap : eyes and spiracles 

 both large : skin perfectly smooth above ; and beneath also, 

 excepting along the anterior margins of the pectorals and 

 the surface of the snout, which are set with very minute 

 spines and denticles : one large spine above each eye, in- 

 clining backwards, and another smaller one behind each eye : 

 no spines on any part of the back, but three rows on the 

 tail, one occupying the middle ridge, the two others the 

 sides ; the spines on these rows strong and sharp, and mostly 

 inclining backwards : tail scarcely longer than the body, 

 depressed, rather stout, with two moderately-sized finlets 

 of equal form, nearly contiguous ; scarcely the rudiment 

 of a caudal : pectorals broad, with the anterior margins hol- 

 lowed out, and not prolonged beyond the basal half of the 



2 I.- 2 



