RHINOBATUS (SYRRHINA) ANNULATUS.— Smith. 



Pisces.— Plate XVI. 



R. supra flavo-cinereus annulis livido-brunneis variegatus ; infra carneus ; aculeis parvis in ordine 

 transverso ante oculum ; naso depresso antice rotundato ; aculeis parvis in medio dorsi inter caput et 

 prim am pinnam dorsalem. 



Longitudo ab apice nasi ad extremitatem pinnae caudalis, 39 unc. 



Rhinobatus (Syrrhina) annulatus, Muller et Henle, Be.sch der Plagiostomen, p. 116. 



Colour. — Above, the tint is intermediate between yellowish grey and 

 greenish grey, the former colour predominating on the fins ; below, light 

 flesh-red. The hinder parts of the head and the back and sides in front of the 

 second dorsal fin are sparingly sprinkled with eye-like spots, each spot con- 

 sisting of two dark rings, a light ring and a light central spot ; the dark rings 

 are clove-brown, the light ring and the central spot bluish white, or pale 

 lavender-purple. Eyes silvery with a greenish tint ; apex of snout superiorly 

 pale flesh-red. 



Form, &c. — Head flat and subtriangular, the snout, which forms the apex 

 of the triangle, thin and rounded ; the body convex above, nearly flat beneath, 

 and tapering gradually from the hindhead to the caudal fin, the portion 

 immediately in front of the latter very slender and subcylindrical. Opening 

 of eyes rather small and ovate; postorbital opening immediately behind the 

 eye, oblique, large, oval, and with two small, triangular, cuticular lobules 

 projecting forewards from its hind edge, towards the upper extremity. About a 

 quarter of an inch in front of each eye is a short semicircular transverse ridge, 

 the hinder edge of which is armed with a number of short, strong, and pointed 

 teeth, directed horizontally backwards, and there are indications of a few 

 others disposed in a small cluster above the upper extremity of each post- 

 orbital opening. Nasal bones long, about one inch apart between the dentated 

 ridges in front of the eyes, towards apex of nose nearly in contact and 

 parallel. Nostrils large, oblique, and anteriorly divided into two parts by a 

 loose triangular lobule, the inner portion of which is so prolonged as nearly 

 to meet its fellow of the opposite side, the hinder edge of prolongation loose, 

 the anterior edge throughout attached. Mouth directly transverse, and both 

 jaws armed with smooth, convex, and closely-set teeth, transversely, of an 



