135 
MmOBATIS. 
The head projecting beyond the attachment of the pectoral fins; the 
latter spreading wider than in other kinds of Rays. Jaws with broad 
flat teeth. Tail long and slender, bearing a single dorsal fin, and armed 
with a spine. 
EAGLE RAY. 
TOAD-FISH. SEA EAGLE, 
It was called the Eagle in ancient times, because of its widely-spread 
pectoral fins resembling wings, and its great magnitude when of full 
size; its weight being supposed to amount to several hundred pounds. 
It was also named Toad-fish, from the appearance of its head, which 
slopes considerably, and its protuberant eyes on the sides of the head; 
conveying, therefore, the impression of the aspect of tlmt reptile. 
Myliobatis aqiiila, 
a « 
(( it 
(( <( 
« (( 
Baia aquila, 
Bale aigle, 
JoNSTO.v; p. 30, tab. 9, f. 9. 
Willoughby ; p. 64, tab. c. 2. 
Lowe; Fishes of Madeira, tab. 15. 
Jesyns; Manual, p. 519. 
Yakeell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 691. 
Cuvieb. 
Linnjsus. 
Lacepedb and Rtsso. 
It has been the general opinion of naturalists that this fish 
produces its young alive ; but in the year 1845, Charles William 
Peach, Esq., then living at Eowey, in Cornwall, obtained from 
the master of a trawl vessel belonging to that port, a large and 
very curious purse that had been dredged up in his trawl, 
and presented it with its contents to me, and from which was 
extracted an undoubted example of the partially developed young 
of the Eagle Eay. This purse is described below, and the 
embryo within it appeared to be about half developed, with 
