293 



MANATIA RAY. 



Raja Manatia. R. rhombea nigricans, subtus alba, capite bilobo, 



Cauda inermi, apice pinnata. 

 Rhomboid blackish Ray, white beneath, with bilobate head, 



and unarmed tail, finned at the tip. 

 Raja Manatia. Cepede, 



A SPECIES of gigantic magnitude : allied in gene- 

 ral appearance to the Demon Ray ; length about 

 fifteen feet and a half : breadth about nine feet : 

 the body and pectoral fins, taken together, forming 

 the appearance of a lozenge : each pectoral fin, 

 separately taken, representing an isosceles triangle: 

 the head is rather small in comparison with the 

 body, and of similar shape with that of the former 

 species, being furnished with a flattened, extended 

 process on each side, of the length of about six 

 inches: mouth about ten inches wide: back elevated 

 on the middle into a large tubercle : ventral fins 

 small, and in part covered by the pectoral fins : 

 dorsal fin wanting: tail as in the former species, 

 but terminating in a divided fin : whole animal 

 smooth : colour above black or very deep brown ; 

 beneath milk-white : nativ e of the South- American 

 seas, where it is called Manatia, 



