iE o 
as 
Fishes of Massachusetts. 543 
R. ocellata. Mitchell. The ocellated Ray. 
Trans, Lit. et Philosoph. Soc. vol. i. p. 477. 
This species, described by Mitchell in his “ Fishes 
of New York," is sometimes met with in our waters, 
weighing 200 pounds. ‘The following description 
is drawn up from a female specimen thirty-one inches 
in length : 
Body above, of a light brown color, thickly 
sprinkled over its entire surface with circular black 
spots, varying in size from half a line to two lines in 
diameter. Width across the pectorals, thirty inches; 
width of the head, directly back of the eyes, twelve 
inches; distance between the eyes, about two inches. 
Eyes, alee horizontally, two thirds of an inch 
in diameter; pupils black; irides yellowish, beauti- 
fully radiated with golden, resembling slips of gold 
leaf; orbitar ridge covered with very small spines. 
Snout slightly projecting. On each side of the 
snout, a slight marginal excavation. Temporal ori- 
fices directly back of the eyes, situated obliquely, 
one inch in length. Mouth measures from outer 
angle, three inches across; teeth placed in the quin- 
cunx. Nostrils directly in front of the mouth, large 
and protected by fleshy prolongations. From the 
tip of the snont to a point opposite the first bran- 
chial opening, the margin of the pectorals on each 
side, are rough to the touch. The branchial open- 
ings, five in number, situated at equal distances 
from each other. Body beneath, white; in front of, 
and at the sides of the mouth, and at the anterior 
