117 



SHAGREEN RAY. 



HOUGH FLArPER. FRENCH RAY. DUN COW. 



Raia aspera nostras, "Willotjghbt; p. 78. 



" fullonica, Linn-'eus. Tarrell; Br. Fishes, 



vol. ii., p. 578. 

 " aspera, Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 172. 



" chagrinea, Jenyns: Manual, p. 613. 



This species appears to be more frequently taken on the coasts 

 of Scotland than on the south or west portions of the British 

 Islands; but it has been obtained in Ireland; and in Devon- 

 shire. Mr. William Thompson informs me of its occurrence at 

 Wepnouth, and our figure is from an example caught on the 

 south coast of Cornwall; but in the last-named districts it is 

 of rare occurrence. Its peculiar habits, as distinguished from 

 those of other Rays, appear to have been little noticed; but 

 we believe it will be found that the rarer species of this tribe 

 are not more frequently caught, arises from the fact, that the 

 usual baits of fishermen are not suited to their appetite. The 

 snout of this fish projects considerably, and the outline is waved 

 as it proceeds to the extremities of the pectoral fins; the greatest 

 breadth being behind the middle of the disk. The ventral fins 

 are rather narrow; the tail stout and tapering, with two dorsal 

 fins close together near its termination. Eyes rather large, as 

 are the spiracles close behind them. The skin is covered with 

 granulations, which differ greatly from the spines or prickles 

 which sometimes cover the skin of the Thornback Ray or Cuckoo 

 Ray. Our example being a male- is better armed with spines 

 than the female may be supposed to be. A row encircles each 

 eye; a lengthened bed of them is on the disk near the widest 

 expansion of the pectoral fins; a line of spines more obscurely 

 YOL. I. S 



