70 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



electric organs. Skin more or less roughene.d with spines or 

 prickles. Sometimes a caudal on tail, which is stout, rather long 

 and with longitudinal fold on each side. Pectoral fins extend 

 to snout. Ventrals large. 



In all cool seas, some species in deep water. A single genus 

 with several species in our waters. 



Genus Raja Linnaeus. 



The Skates. 



Key to the species. 



a. Middle line of back and tail unarmed in adult, with a row of spines in 



young; outline of disk before spiracles obtuse, without acute angle at 



tip of snout. 



h. Teeth about '^Vso; small. ERInacea 



hb. Teeth about ^V^; large. ocellata 



aa. Middle line of back with a row of spines at all ages. 



c. Teeth about ^V^; tip of snout acute. eglanteria 



cc. Teeth about "Vso ; tip of snout much produced. l.Evis 



Raja erinacea Mitchill. 

 Plate 2. 



Hedge Hog Ray. 



Body semi-diaphanous so that skeleton can be seen when held 

 against light, especially snout and margins of pectorals. Head 

 rounded. Snout a little pointed. Cheeks parting projections of 

 curved form on sides of snout laterally anterior to eyes. Eyes 

 half covered and elegantly curtained. Teeth in both jaws, asso- 

 ciated, compact and sharp-pointed. Nostrils distinct, and con- 

 nected with mouth through fissures to upper lip. Skin slimy, 

 scaleless, beset with prickl^es in spots or patches. A patch in 

 front of each eye reaching along inner orbit and occupying space 

 between eyes. Two lines of spines from each ocular patch to 

 tip of snout where they join with the form of an inverted V. 

 Cheeks covered with prickles. Behind eyes on top of head an 

 equilateral triangular patch of prickles with one of its sides back 



