90 



THE FOOD OF ANIMALS 



into six-sided plates, united along their edges, and forming a 

 sort of pavement well suited for crushing purposes. In some of 



Fig. 371. — Eagle Ray {Myliohatis agitila) 



the allied species there is an arrangement supposed to compensate 

 for the inconvenient position of the mouth, which is not only 



placed far back on the under side, but 

 also, owing to the flattening of the 

 body, does not extend to the sides. 

 The specialization in question consists 

 of a horn-like projection on either side 

 formed from a part of the pectoral fin. 

 These horns are supposed to play the 

 part of hands, and convey food to the 

 mouth. 



Some of the Rays, however, are 

 enabled by special devices to prey 

 upon fishes capable of much swifter 

 movement than they are themselves. 

 The colour and markings of the upper 

 surface, for instance, may be such as 

 to bring about so close a resemblance 

 to the adjacent sea-bottom that other 

 fishes venture within reach; and, fur- 

 ther, some Rays have slender tails 

 provided with sharp spines, enabling them to seize and wound 

 their prey (fig. 371). The Electric Rays (fig. 372), of which a 

 common type is the marbled species [Torpedo marmoratd), are 



Fig. 372. — Electric Ray [Torpedo) 



