RAJA. RAY. 



Generic Character. 



Qs sub capite, transversum, 

 dentibus obsitum. 



Spiracnla subtus ad collum 



utrinque quinque. 

 Corpus depressum, pleris- 



que subrhomboideum. 



Mouth situated beneath the 



head, transverse, beset 



with teeth. 

 Spiracles beneath, five oa 



each side the neck. 

 Body in most species sub* 



rhomboidal. 



X H I S genus is distinguished by the remarkable 

 breadth and thinness of the body, the pectoral fins 

 appearing like a continuation of the sides them- 

 selves, being covered with the common skin : their 

 rays are cartilaginous, strait, and furnished with 

 numerous swellings or knots : the teeth are very 

 numerous, small, and placed in ranges over the lips 

 or edges of the mouth : the eyes are furnished with 

 a nictitating membrane or skin, which can at plea- 

 sure be drawn over them like an eyelid, and at 

 some distance above the eyes are situated the 

 jiostrils, each appearing like a large and somewhat 

 semilunar opening edged with a reticulated skin, 

 and furnished internally with a great many lamin- 

 ated processes divided by a middle partition : they 

 are guarded by an exterior valve : behind the eyes 

 ar^ alsQ a pair of holes communicating with the 



