GtJTTATED RAY. *1B3 



of three hundred pounds. It inhabits the Mediter- 

 ranean, Atlantic, and Indian seas, and is said to 

 swim in a slower manner than most other Rays : 

 like the rest of the genus it preys on the smaller 

 fishes, &c. and is supposed to strike and kill, or at 

 least disable its prey with the caudal spine when 

 taken it is observed to vibrate the tail with great 

 strength and rapidity in all directions. It is not 

 numbered among edible fishes, being tough and of 

 a bad flavour, but the liver, which is very large, is 

 said to be sometimes eaten, though it is more fre- 

 quently used for the purpose of preparing from it a 

 clear oil, which it affords in great plenty. 



GUTTATED RAY. 



Raja Guttata. R. subrhombeo-dilatata cinerea, albo guttata, 

 capife suhproducto, suhtus alba, cauda tenui armata. 



Subrhombic-dilated cinereous Ray, spotted with wliite^ with 

 subproduced head, body white beneath, and slender, armed 

 tail. r 



Marinari. Marcgr. Bras. IVill. p. 66. t. C. l.f. 5. 



Eel Tenkee. Rvss, ind, t. 8. 



Greatly allied to the H. Aquila in appearance, 

 but with a more produced head or snout : colour 

 above deep cinereous, pretty thickly marked with 

 small, round, white or whitish spots : tail-fins and 

 spine placed nearer the body than in the preced- 

 ing, of which however it has been sometimes con- 

 sidered as a variety rather than as truly distinct : 

 native of the Indian and African seas ; observed 

 by Commerson about the coasts of Madagascar, by 



