THE SHAETvS AND RAYS. 431 



This fish is said to feed not only on flat-fish and crusta- 

 ceans, but also on such surface or mid-water forms as shad 

 and herrings. The "purses" of this species are deposited 

 in summer. 



The deeper water furnishes the rarer Long-nosed Skate, 

 which has a long shovel-shaped snout with which to dig up 



Long- ^^^ flat-fish, its favourite food. It is grey on 



nosed both surfaces, with or without spots and streaks. 



^ ^' On the lower surface of the tail there is a 



series of spines. The skin of this species is granulated 



and rough to the touch, but lacks the larger tubercles. 



Like the rest, the long-nosed skate is oviparous. 



[The Flap2^e7' Sl'ate of Day is regarded by many natur- 

 alists, Couch among them, as a variety only. Giinther 

 considers it a hybrid between the common skate and some 

 other species.] 



The largest of our rays, the Sharp-nosed Ray, also known 

 variously as the "Burton Skate," "White Skate," or "Mavis 

 Sharp- Skate," is taken to a weight of 500 lbs., its 



nosed Bay. greatest length being given at between 7 and 

 8 feet. As in all rays, distinguished from the skates proper, 

 the lower surface is spotless white, the edge of the pectoral 

 fin being sometimes, though not invariably, shaded with 

 black. On the tail and pectoral fin, also behind the eyes, 

 are rows of spines. The edge of the snout is undulated 

 as far as the pectoral fin. 



A deep-water species, caught chiefly in the summer 

 months, the Shagreen Ray, "Dun Cow," or "French 

 Shagreen Ray" grows to a length of 3 feet, and is 

 Ray. more common on the east coast than in the 



Channel. The skin of this species is roughly granulated, 

 and there are two rows of large siDines along the disc 

 and round the eyes. In colour this ray is light brown 

 above, pure white below, the edge of the disc being often 

 of darker hue than the rest. 



