Game Fishes of the Colonies 405 
represented in Porto Rico by the “corvina,” 
Cynoscion jamaicensis, Many striking rays are 
found about here, the list in all probability 
being similar to that of Florida. One popularly 
known as the eagle ray (#~¢obatus) is a most 
graceful and attractive creature, as I recall it, 
literally flying ahead of my boat over shallow 
lagoons on the reef, the back dark with vivid 
light spots—a veritable leopard of the sea. 
Its side fins move up and down with a singularly 
graceful movement, the fish appearing to fly 
along. Trailed behind this birdlike creature 
is a tail like a whip-lash, longer than the 
extreme width of the fish, a most dangerous and 
effective weapon. Just above its base are from 
one to three spines set one above the other, and 
about six inches in length, a quarter of an inch 
in width, and closely serrated. One in my pos- 
session, a souvenir of the adventure to follow, 
is a very good saw if soft wood is employed. 
If this creature could by any means be con- 
sidered a game fish, no one capturing it would 
gainsay it, as a more gallant fighter does not 
sail the shallow seas, and as a ground and lofty 
tumbler, a leaper of high degree, it holds high 
rank. The leap is a most graceful movement, 
