20 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



Raja brachyura, n. sp. (PL VI.). 



A short-snouted species. The angle formed by the margins of the snout is slightly- 

 obtuse, and the extremity does not project. The width of the interorbital space is more 

 than the length of the orbit together with the spiracle, and but little less than one-half of 

 the distance between the eye and the end of the snout. Mouth nearly transverse. Teeth 

 pointed, in about thirty -five series in the upper jaw. Tail remarkably short and stout. 

 The outer pectoral angle is rounded, and the margins would meet at an obtuse angle. 

 The two dorsal fins are very close together. The upper part of the head and of the 

 pectoral, and the back are covered with minute spines. A series of conical spines along 

 the median line of the back and tail, the spines on the back being smaller and less con- 

 stant than those on the tail. Brown, marbled with darker and lighter. 



Male. Female. 



Distance of the vent from the extremity of the snout, . 14^ inches. 18 inches. 



Distance of the vent from the extremity of the tail, . 12f ,, 14-| ,, 



Width of the disk, 18^ „ 25 „ 



Total Length, . . . . . . . . 27^ „ 32^ „ 



Magellan Straits and west of them. Station 313; 55 fathoms. Station 314; 70 

 fathoms. 



Psammohatis rudis, Gthr. (PI. X.). 



(?) Raja scobina, Phil. Wiegm. Arch., 1857, p. 270. 



This species, described by me from a very young example, attains a much more con- 

 siderable size, a male, 1 1-| inches long, being still far from being mature. With age the 

 disk ceases to be as perfectly circular as is observed in young specimens, its anterior 

 margins becoming more rectilinear. A very short and thin rostral appendage in front 

 of the disk is present in all examples. Beside the median series of small thorns on 

 the tail of very young examples, there are developed two other similar series on each 

 side of the back of examples more advanced in age, and they are continued along each 

 side of the tail, which thus is armed with a triple series. The tail of the larger specimens 

 shows a distinct terminal fin, which, however, is small and confluent with the second 

 dorsal. Beside the dark spots, white spots are more or less numerous on the disk and 

 upper parts of the ventrals ; they are more numerous in very young than in older 

 examples. 



Figures A and B represent our largest male, and C the typical specimen of the natural 

 size. Length of specimens 3^ to 11-^ inches. Off Cape Virgins. Station 313; 55 

 fathoms. 



Sehastes oculatm, C. V. Station 306 ; 345 fathoms. Station 307 ; 147 fathoms. 

 Porto Bueno. 



