540 



SQUALID.E. 



looks as if enveloped in a monk's hood. Mr. Donovan says 

 the form of its body has obtained for it in some places the 

 name of Fiddle-fish ; and it is also called Shark-Ray, from its 

 partaking of the characters of both Shark and Ray, though 

 in some respects distinct from either. It is, however,- by no 

 means so truly osculant between those families as the exotic 

 genus Rhinobatus. 



It is most numerous on the southern coast of our island ; 

 but is occasionally taken in the Forth, and some other parts 

 of the east coast, particularly about Cromer and Yarmouth. 

 It is common on the coasts of Kent and Sussex, where it is 

 called a Kingston, a name for it that occurs in Merretfs 

 Pinax. It is also taken in Cornwall ; and is recorded as oc- 

 curring in Ireland on the coasts of Kerry, Waterford, Dub- 

 lin, and Belfast. 



This fish is very voracious, and feeds on the smaller flat- 

 fishes, which, like itself, swim close to the bottom ; occasion- 

 ally, like them also, hiding itself in the loose, soft soil that 

 floats over it. The Angel-fish sometimes attains a large 

 size. Cuvier, Pennant, and others, mention having seen 

 specimens that would have weighed one hundred pounds. 

 The flesh is now considered indifferent and seldom eaten, but 

 is said to have been formerly held in high estimation. The 

 skin is rather rough, and is used for polishing, and other 

 works in the arts : Mr. Donovan also says that the Turks at 

 the present time make shagreen of it. 



A second species of this genus has been supposed to occur 

 on our coast ; but the Angel-fish is probably liable to some 

 variation in colour, depending on the nature of the ground 

 in the locality in which it is found : the sexes also exhibit 

 some differences. The females produce their young alive in 

 June. 



This species is said to attain the length of seven or eight 

 feet ; the specimen described measured but fourteen inches ; 



