572 RAIID.E. 



Ray and of tlie Homelyn, as quoted, the latter under the 

 trivial term rub us ; but he believed with Montagu, that they 

 were not distinct species. Mr. Donovan had noticed two 

 similar eye-like spots on several small examples of the true 

 Skate (batis) ; and I possess young specimens of the Thorn- 

 back (clavata) with the same sort of ocellated lateral spots, 

 and have seen many others of the three most common species. 

 Mr. Donovan's remark accords so closely with my own view, 

 that I insert it here in his own words : 



" Although we present this as the Raia miraletus of Lin- 

 nseus with perfect confidence, it is not without some hesita- 

 tion at least that we can offer it as a distinct species. In 

 every respect, except the ocellar spot on the wings, it perfect- 

 ly agrees with the Homerling Ray, and may possibly prove, 

 on further examination of other specimens, to be only a lusus, 

 or remarkable variety of that fish." 



The figure given at the head of this subject exhibits the 

 eye-like lateral spots, from the possession of which it has been 

 called miraletus and oculata : the smoothness of the surface of 

 the skin, and its numerous smaller spots, sufficiently warrant 

 the terms leevis and maculata. The words oculata and laevis 

 were combined by some of the older authors, and probably 

 referred to this species. 



The Homelyn and the Thornback, which are not very dis- 

 similar in shape, though otherwise perfectly distinct, are the 

 two species most common in the London market : a large 

 proportion of both are taken in the trawl-nets. 



This species is not common on the east coast of Scotland. 

 In Ireland it has been taken at Belfast, Dublin, and Youghal. 



The form is rhomboidal ; the diameter of the body about 

 one-fourth greater than the length : the nose short and blunt, 

 its projection beyond the outline of the pectorals but small : 

 in a young male specimen of twelve inches in breadth the se- 

 condary sexual characters begin to appear ; there are numc- 



