THORNBACKS. 



I8 5 



Fig. 1 20. 



nal in its habits, feeding on small flat-fish, Crustacea, 

 whelks, &c., indeed almost anything it can obtain. It 

 usually lies half-buried in the sand, which it strews 

 over its body by means of its tail. The females, how- 

 ever, bring forth their young alive ; so far, therefore, 

 the connecting link be- 

 tween the dog-fish and 

 rays is destroyed. The 

 shape of these fishes, 

 nevertheless, is a good 

 indication of their af- 

 finities to the skates or 

 rays. At the Brighton 

 Aquarium the angel 

 fishes have always done 

 remarkably well. The 

 thornback or skate (Raia 

 clavatd) is one of the 

 best known of our flat- 

 fishes, and is much eaten 

 by the poorer classes of 

 this country. Those 

 who have partaken of 

 the flesh of the wings > 

 or broad pectoral fins, will, however, be inclined 

 to say that it is "a dish for a king." The thorn- 

 back is easily acclimatised, and will live in the same 

 tank with cod, dog-fish, sturgeon, &c. The homelyn 

 or spotted ray (Raia maculata) is also eaten as food. 



Thornback {Raia clai>cita). 



