100 THORN BACK RAY. 



of the eggs. A similar charge is laid against the trawl as 

 regards several other sorts of fish; and it is to be regretted that 

 what is otherwise a very valuable employment, and an cxeellent 

 nursery for sailors, cannot be followed without inflicting injury 

 on their brethren of the line and net; the opposite of which 

 might be the case if some regulation regarding the times and 

 distances of this sort of fishing were brought into action. 



This species is particular in the selection of its food; so that 

 from being scarce it has become suddenly abundant on a change 

 of bait; the pilchard and herring being amongst its choicer 

 morsels; but it also feeds on crabs and other crustaceans in 

 great abundance. 



It is sometimes known to come to the surface, even over a 

 considerable depth of water; and in the month of March fish- 

 ermen have noticed many at a distance of several miles from 

 each other, where the water has been more than thirty fathoms 

 in depth, stemming the tide without difficulty, but neglecting 

 the offer of a bait. The Common Skate has been seen near 

 the surface under the same circumstances; and it has been 

 supposed that this occasional habit is in some way connected 

 with the season of propagation. The egg cases are deposited 

 in succession in May and June; and it has been remarked that 

 females are met with in greater numbers than males. 



In an example three feet two inches in length, the tail 

 measured eighteen inches and the breadth twenty-eight inches; 

 the widest extent being behind the middle of the disk. The 

 snout short, to the eye five inches and a half; the eye separate, 

 and elevated; spiracles large. The mouth five inches from the 

 snout, with teeth rough at first, but generally flat like mosaic 

 pavement; nostrils lobed. Border of the body from the snout 

 at first rounded, then slightly concave to the extremity. Ventral 

 fins small; dorsal fins two, rounded, and near the end of the 

 tail. Body moderately thick, rough above, with large hooked 

 spines scattered over the surface, the embedded root of each 

 spine round and solid. Three rows of stout spines along the 

 tail, the middle one running up the back. Colour of the upper 

 surface, mottled with yellow, brown and dark, white below. 

 The tints of colour vary, and in younger examples what at last 

 appear mere blotches, are regular rings or waved lines. It is 

 common to find some stout spines on the under surface, and 



