TUE BLUE, OR GEAY SKATE. 



233 



and those with bhmt noses ; the latter arc furnished 

 with numerous sharp spines on various parts of the 

 body. 



The Bhie Skate, Flair-Tinlier, Grey Skate {liaia hatis ; 

 German : Der Glattroclien ; Danish : Bokke ; Dutch : 

 De Vleet; French : Bae Batis), or, as it is frequently 

 called, the Skate — to distinguish it from the Thornback 

 and Homelyn — is not uncommon. The ordinary size is 

 from two to four feet. The nose is sharp, lengthened, 

 and conical, the colour of the surface greyish brown, and 



BLUE, OR GEET SKATE [Rata Vulgaris, Eaia hatis). 



beneath, greyish white with black specks ; the whole 

 surface is more or less granulated. The females are 

 larger and more numerous than the males, and the 

 latter have several rows of sharp hooked spines towards 

 the sides of the pectoral fins. They are very voracious, 

 feeding on other fish and Crustacea. 



In November, 1866, I received a monster skate that 

 had been caught at Southwold, on the coast of Suffolk. 

 When laid on the slate it looked like a big mourning 

 hatchment, with a tail to it. It measured from nose to 



