SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE OF FISHES. 47 



Genus RHINOPTERA Kuhl. Cow-nosed Rays. 



Body broader than long, but not so broad as in other genera; cephalic fin 

 emarginate and below level of pectorals, the snout thus appearing four-lobed; 

 teeth in 5 to 20 rows; dorsal fin small, immediately in front of a long serrated 

 spine. Viviparous. One species on Atlantic coast. (J?/imopiero, snout-finned.) 



23. RHINOPTERA BONASUS (MitchUl). 

 "Devil-fish"; Cow-nosed Ray; Corn-cracker; WKip-ray; Whipparee. 



Raja bonaatis MLtchill, Transactions Literary and Pliilosophical Society- of New York, 1815, 479: New York. 

 Rhinoptera bonasua, Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 90. 

 Rhinoptera quadriloba, Wilson, 1900, 355: Beaufort. 



Diagnosis.— Body about .33 broader than long; anterior border of pectorals straight, the 

 outer angles acute; tail very slender, rather longer than body; teeth in 7 rows in each jaw, the 

 median teeth very broad; skin smooth. Color: brown above, pale below, (jbonasus, buffs-lo.) 



This is a common species from Massachusetts to Florida. In North Caro- 

 lina it is found at all times of the year, but is usually most abundant in spring; in 

 September, 1903, however, it was very numerous in Beaufort Harbor. The 

 species reaches a large size, some examples observed in Florida being 7 feet wide. 

 It feeds largely on mollusks, which it crushes with its powerful paired jaws; the 

 razor-clam and the oyster are favorite foods. The young, numbering two or 

 three, are born in spring or summer, and are very active from birth. The stout 

 barbed spine is usually covered with mucous, and the wounds which it inflicts 

 are painful and often dangerous. 



Family MANTIDiE. The Sea-devils. 



Immense ovoviviparous rays of the tropical seas, with broad body; lateral 

 eyes; wide mouth, numerous teeth; widely separated. nostrils whose valves form 

 a wide flap; pectoral fiiis developed anteriorly as horn-like appendages; long, 

 whip-like tail, with a dorsal fin at base and with or without a spine; skin rough. 

 Two genera, of which the following is represented on the United States coast. 

 Genus MANTA Bancroft. Sea-devils. 



Body broader than long; anterior margin of pectorals convex, posterior con- 

 cave, the outer angles sharp; cephalic fins long, curved inward; mouth terminal, 

 teeth very small and numerous, in lower jaw only; skin rough, having small 

 tubercles. Two species, one American. (Mania, blanket.) 



24. MANTA BIROSTRIS (Walbaum.) 

 "Devil-fish"; Sea-devil. 



Baia biroatria Walbaum, Genera Piscium, 535, 1792. 



Cerataptera vampirua, Yarrow, 1877, 216; Beaufort. Jordan & Gilbert, 1879, 386; Beaufort. 

 Manta biroatria, Jordan, 1888, 26; Baautort. Jenkins, 1887, 85; Cape Lookout. Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 

 92, pi. xviii, fig. 39. Wilson, 1900, 355; Cape Lookout, Gill, 1903; North Carolina. 



Diagnosis.— Body twice as broad as long; head square in front; teeth in about 100 series; 

 tail very slender, about length of body, a barbed spine near its base; body and tail covered 

 with gmall tubercles; the hom-line processes capable of being folded across mouth. Color: 

 dark brown above, white below, {birastria, two-beaied.) 



