260 PLAGIOSTOMI. 



ray of this species to-day, on the beach at Annalong. The " claspers " 

 were about a foot in length. 



The Shagreen Ray, Raia chagrinea, Mont., 



"Was obtained by the Ordnance Survey collectors at Portrush, in May, 

 1839, as appears by the specimen so labelled in their collection. 



Captain Portlock remarked in reference to this species, that it " seems 

 to take the place of R. oxyrhynchus on the northern coast." 



The Homelyn Ray, or Spotted Ray, Raia maculata, Mont., 



Appears to be found around the coast. 



In the North and East, Avhere I have had the opportunity of seeing rays, 

 this sp. appears to be about equally common with R. clavata, these two 

 being by far the most common species. 



The It. maculata is described by Yarrell and Jenyns to be "smooth," but 

 of the several specimens taken at various times in Belfast Bay and on 

 the neighbouring coasts, and examined in a fresh state, only one was 

 smooth ; the skin of this individual when preserved and cky was slightly 

 roughened, both above and below, with minute tubercles. 



There can be little doubt that the " Raia Iceris vuhjata with two black 

 spots, one on each side the back," noticed in Smith's Waterford, was this 

 species. I have seen specimens from Youghal, in Dr. R. Ball's collection, 

 and have seen it brought in by the fishermen at Howth, Co. Dublin. — See 

 Ord. Surv. Mem. p. 15. 



" Raia miraletus, Linn," Yarr. ? 

 — rubus, Don. ? 

 See young one in ovum case preserved in spirits, obtained quite fresh on 

 Holywood Warren, Belfast Bay, Nov. 30, 1851, by Mr. J. R. Garrett. 



Raia maculata. Ray received from Dr. Drummond, July 7, 1838, and 

 bought by him of a Holywood fisherman, taken with lugworm. 



It belongs to the first section of the genus Raia. " Snout sharp, more 

 or less elongated," Jenyns, p. 510. It differs from the leading characters 

 of Raia Batis in haviny the lateral margins of the snout parallel, the 

 points of the spine on the lateral rows of the tail directed backwards, and 

 the colour being beneath altogether tvhite except the margins of the P. 

 fins, which are dusky. 



From the oxyrhynchus it diff'ers in the snout being very moderately 

 elongated, and in having the skin of the upper surface yramdated instead 

 of being " smooth." 



From the R. maryinaia, in the last-named character. 



From the jR. chagrinea, in having a row of large spines on the ridge of 

 the tail. 



From the R. maculata, in being smooth. 



From R. clavata, in ivanting the " tubercles " entirely. 



In form it agrees better with Yarrell's " Sharp-nosed Ray," p. 424, than 

 any other, and has large spines just where they appear in the figure, and 

 similarly disposed ; the snout however is not just so long as here figured ; 

 the specimen is a male. 



Its total length is 30 inches, greatest breadth 18 inches, length of body 

 to commencement of vent 13 inches, thence to point of caudal fin 17 

 inches. 



Teeth, a very few only can be called sharp-pointed, the others being 



