The Sharp-nosed Ray (R. a/éa), the “ Bottle-nosed Ray ”
of Devon fishermen, is the largest species in our seas, examples
having been taken of 7 or 8 ft. in length and 500 lb. in
weight. It has rows of tubercles on the tail and “ wings,”
also behind the eyes, and on the edge of the lower surface.
This is the owner of the large “ purse,” which Couch attri-
buted to Myliobatis.
THE SHARKS AND RAYS 109


The Starry Ray (R. radiata) is more formidably covered
with tubercles than any other of our species. The claspers of the
full-grown male are also of greater length than in any other ray.
This is the most decidedly northern of our rays, being com-
mon on the coasts of Iceland and northern Norway, but not
occurring with any regularity on our own, except in Scotland.
The Homelyn (R. maculata) has, as a rule, its upper
surface dull brown, with a number of darker spots, and the
lower surface white. The snout projects only slightly and
is conical in form, sharpest in old males. The spiracles are
large, and there are rows of tubercles on the tail and one
along the back. Tubercles also, in some individuals, line the
edges of the “ wings,” and there are a few before the eyes.
The Blonde (R. dlanda) is distinguished from the last by
Holt and Calderwood * on the ground of its paler ground-
colour and more even distribution of spots, as well as by its
smaller and more numerous teeth, and by the border of closely
set tubercles along the anterior margin of the under surface.
