. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. CHAPTER LXIII THE ORDER OF RAYS AND SKATES BAIAE The rays and skates are merelj^ flat-bottomed, side-wheel sharks, built to navigate T.'cry shallow waters. From the typical shark down to the broadest and flattest ray, the change of form is shown by a beautifully complete series of livinn; links, several of which it has been my privilege to handle and dissect fresh from their home waters. Of these connecting links, the most interesting is the rare and wonderful Shark-Ray,^ o
. The American natural history; a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America. Natural history. CHAPTER LXIII THE ORDER OF RAYS AND SKATES BAIAE The rays and skates are merelj^ flat-bottomed, side-wheel sharks, built to navigate T.'cry shallow waters. From the typical shark down to the broadest and flattest ray, the change of form is shown by a beautifully complete series of livinn; links, several of which it has been my privilege to handle and dissect fresh from their home waters. Of these connecting links, the most interesting is the rare and wonderful Shark-Ray,^ of the and thinness. But the long, fleshy body and tri- angular head still proclaim very unmistakably the line of relationship with the sharks. Several species representing this intermediate type are found in our waters, but they are not common, and the real home of the genus is in the tropics and subtropics. The Sawfish,â â of the Florida coast, and many portions of the tropics farther south, is celebrated. SHARK-R.\Y. Indian Ocean, a fine specimen of which was caught for me in the shallow waters between Ceylon and India. It is as nearly as possible half shark and half Ray, and is shown in the accomjianying illustration. Between this and the ty|)ical ray stands the Beaked Ray,- nnich flatter than the preceding, and with the pectoral fins taking on ray-like spread ^ AVmm-y>^o-6a'/^^â a}i~r!/-los'lii-nius. ^ Of the genus Rhi-no-}ia'fif:. The species some- times seen on the coast of Florida is R. ten-tig-i- no'sus. among fishes because of the very long, flat beak of bone which jjrojects forward from its snout, armed on both sides with formidable teeth. The length of this saw is more than one-third the length of the head, body and tail. It is, we may safely assert, strictly a weapon of defence, not offence; for unless it is used as a shoA'el in searching for mollusks and other food on the bottom of the sea, it is useless in the search for food. When the Sawfish is threatened
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