PTEROCEPHALlNiE, OR EAGLE RAYS. 



175 



development of the pectorals : these fins^ however^ only 

 take their commencement immediately behind the eye ; 

 so that those and the snout are entirely free. The tail 

 of these fish^ of which one species is well figured among 

 the Indian fishes of Russell, is very slender and exces- 

 sively long, being near twice the length of the body ; 

 and it is described as being without any sting or bony 

 process. Whether this weapon is constantly absent in 

 certain species^ or whether, as on the present occasion^ 

 it had been broken off accidentally or purposely, (for it 

 is universally considered by fishermen of all countries 

 to be poisonous,) is a question which must be undecided ; 

 certain it is, however, that some of the rays, both in this 

 and the last sub-families, appear to be totally devoid of 

 a sting. The next genus is Rhinoptera of Kuhl. In 

 this the head is equally free; but the snout is so deeply 

 cleft in front, that in some species it assumes the aspect 

 of two horn -like protuberances, not in substance, but in 

 shape. In one species, the R. quadtilobata of Le 

 Sueur *, here represented from an exquisite plate by that 

 naturalist (fg. 1.9.), there are two other processes, 



one on each side 

 the under part of 

 the snout (a), which 

 are obviously the 

 first development 

 of those fin-like 

 paddles seen in 

 the next genus. 

 The mouth, both 

 of this and Mylio- 

 hates, is placed un- 

 derneath (6) ; but 

 the sting does not 

 appear constant : it 

 exists in the species 

 here figured (c), but 



* Araer, Trans, vol, i. pi, 20. 



