95 



FLAPPEU SKATE 



Bafis infmnrdla, IN'oBis. 



Haiti interniedia, Paunell; in Yarrell's Br. FisUes, vol. ii, p. 553. 



Dr. Paknkt,!,, %vho had well stiulied the fishes of Scotland, 

 believed he had discovered or distinguished a new species of 

 Skate, that was specifically distinct from the common sort, 

 but which, at least by naturalists, had usually been confounded 

 with it. The people of that country were accustomed to call 

 it the Flapper Skate. His description of the characters by 

 which he would distinguish it are, the upper surface perfectly 

 smooth, Avithout granulations; the anterior part of the orbit 

 of the eye having a strong spine pointing backwards; the 

 dorsal fins more distant from each other than in the Common 

 Skate, and the anterior margins of the pectoral fins more 

 concave, giving the snout a sharper appearance. Colour of 

 the back a dark olive, spotted with whice; the under sur.'ace 

 a dark grey. The specimens examined were young, as a[)[)ears 

 from their small size, no one exceeding two feet in length. 



With regard to these particulars of distinction, there are 

 some of them which can weigh but little, for there are few 

 fishes which do not vary greatly in colour according to the 

 nature of their haunts; and all the young ones of this family 

 are ornamented with more lively tints than those of greater 

 age, and also with a di.^erent distribution of the markings. 

 The number of spines on the body is not less liable to 

 variation, but the outline of the disk is more deserving of 

 attention. AVe give a figure of a fish which answers closely 

 to the description of the Flapper Skate given by Dr. Parnell, 

 except in such particulars as 1 know to be liable to variation 

 and uncertainty. Further observations will be requiied to 

 settle this question of identity. The habits of the Flapper 



