CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 667 



fins " below ; teeth in seven rows, middle teeth not so large as in 

 preceding ; skin nearly smooth ; brownish. Attains a large size. 

 " This is quite common along our coast, especially in Septem- 

 ber. It feeds largely upon clams, having jaws and teeth sulfi- 

 ciently powerful to crush the shells." 



Family CEPHALOPTERID^. 



Sea Devils. 



Very large ; disk broader than long ; pectorals not extended on 

 sides of head, but anterior part developed as two long, ear-like 

 appendages; mouth wide; teeth small, in many series; eyes well 

 separated, also nostrils ; skin rough ; sexes alike ; ovoviviparous. 



MANTA, Banc. 



(Ceratoptera, M. &H.) 



M. birostris, Waif, (vampyrut, Mitch.) Sea Devil. Devil Fish. 



Disk broad, with acute exterior angles and concave posterior 

 margins of pectorals; head truncate, with long cephalic fins; 

 teeth present in lower jaw only ; tail whip-like, without spine, 

 as long as width of disk ; teeth, one hundred longitudinal series ; 

 skin rough, brownish. Attains a width of 20 feet. Tropical ; 

 northward occasionally. 



"A specimen of this monster is reported to have been taken 

 in Delaware Bay about 1810. There have been no captures 

 along the coast since, that have been recorded. It is seen along 

 the southern coasts occasionally, but is rare everywhere " (1868). 



