10(5 
SPOTTED tlAY. 
the smaller spines, but not the larger, having a radiated base. 
It was a female; the teeth fiat, as in the Thornbach, each tooth 
being an exact square, with an angiilated corner. This would 
be the Raia ruhus of authors; but it appeared to me to be 
only a variety of the Spotted Ray. 
The Spotted Ray exceeds the Thornback in weight when of 
the same size; and one of these fishes is equally common, and 
by fishermen equally valued, as the other. But the Spotted 
Ray usually is found nearer the shore, and its purses are shed 
in such shallow water, as to be often thrown on shore, with 
their precious burthen within them by the storms of winter. 
The purse is smaller than that of the Thornback, althougb the 
parent fish is of somewhat larger size; and I have obtained the 
voung from the purse frotn November to January, the length 
at that time being about five inches, of which the tail was 
two inches and three eighths; the breadth three inches; vvith 
the spines even then developed. 
Nostrils of young Spotted Ray. 
