206 
ON A FIDDLER (TRYGONORHINA F ASCI AT A), WITH 
ABNORMAL PECTORAL FINS. 
By J as. P. Hill, Demonstrator of Biology, in the 
University of Sydney. 
(Plate xx.) 
Some little time ago there came into my possession through the 
kindness of Mr. J. Hastie, Broken Bay, N.S.W., a specimen of 
the Fiddler-ray (Trygonorhina fasciata), with markedly abnormal 
pectoral fins. The specimen presented so peculiar and striking 
an appearance that it was picked out by the fishermen when 
looking over the contents of their net after a haul and kept as a 
curiosity. On describing the specimen to my friend, Prof. G. B. 
Howes, he referred me to a note* by Dr. Traquair on an abnormal 
Thornback (Raia clavata). Dr. Traquair very kindly furnished 
me with a copy of his note, and I am now enabled to give a 
description of this specimen. 
The Fiddler in question is a young male, measuring 26-9 cm. in 
length, and 11*2 cm. across the broadest part of the pectoral fins. 
From the illustration accompanying this note it will be seen 
that the pectoral fins are markedly abnormal, and give the fish a 
very striking appearance. On each side the anterior portion of 
each pectoral fin is separated by a wide and deep notch from the 
head. The notch on the left side is, as in Dr. Traquair's Thorn- 
back, deeper than that on the right, causing the animal to have a 
very asymmetrical appearance. On the right side the notch 
extends backwards from the anterior end of the pectoral fin for a 
distance of 3 cm., and terminates almost on a level with the 
posterior border of the spiracular cleft. On the left side, however, 
the notch extends back for a distance of 4*5 cm., terminating at 
* Note on an abnormally developed Thornback (Raia clavata), Ann. of 
Scottish Nat. Hist. Jan., 1892. 
