1877.] 207 [Garman. 



Raja (Malacorhina) mira sp. nov. 



Disk rhombic, resembling in shape that of Raja erinacea\ anterior 

 margins indented in the middle, lateral and posterior angles and the 

 margin about the head broadly rounded. Without a rostral carti- 

 lage. In front of the nostrils the basal cartilages of the pectorals 

 are strongly developed and extend to the extremities, thus compen- 

 sating for the absence of the rostral. A narrow extension of the 

 translucent tissue, anterior to the forehead, separates the pectorals, 

 and is produced beyond them into an acute point. The lower side 

 of this prolongation is dark colored and covered with small, sharp 

 scales, differing in these respects from the remainder of the lower 

 surface, which is white and smooth. Ventrals divided by a deep 

 notch; anterior portion narrow, extending laterally twice the width 

 of the hinder part, covered by the pectoral; posterior more than 

 twice as long as wide, outer margin convex, angle acute. Inner ray 

 of the ventral connected with the tail for a long distance backward 

 by a broad fold of skin. Claspers long, subcylindrical, tapering from 

 the base, pointed, each provided with two sharp sickle-shaped blades 

 or hooks. The bases of the claspers are stout, and the posterior 

 halves slender. Tail depressed, thick at the base, tapering regularly 

 to the second dorsal, thence compressed to the end, with a fold on 

 each side and a rayless terminal fin behind the second dorsal. Dor- 

 sals small, the portion of the base occupied by the rays very narrow, 

 with rounded outlines, separated by an interspace with a spine. 

 Eyes medium, prominent, equal in diameter to the spiracles. Eyelid 

 as in Raja. Upper surface rough with very small spines; a patch of 

 larger ones on the forward extremities of the pectorals. Several 

 large compressed spines in front of each eye, above each spiracle, 

 and on each shoulder. A median row of similar spines from back of 

 head to dorsal, a lateral row on each side of this down the back, and 

 one or more lateral rows on each side upon the tail. A band of erec- 

 tile hooks on the pectorals of the male, as in Raja. The portion of 

 the pectoral reaching forward from a point opposite the back of the 

 head is quite narrow, and in each fin — alike on upper and lower 

 surface — has the appearance of being separated from the balance. 

 Nostrils distant from each other more than their distance from the 

 circumference of the disk; with two valves, the anterior semicircular, 

 expanded laterally, notched on the inner side, the posterior triangu- 

 lar, reaching the angle of the mouth. Teeth sharp in the central 

 rows, blunter toward the sides, in thirty-seven rows in the upper jaw, 



PROCEEDINGS B. S. ST. H. — VOL. XIX. 14 NOVEMBER, 1877. 



