328 CHONDROPTERYGII. RAY FAMILY. 



the neighbourhood of the Bass and May, where they 

 are taken in nets, and are often found on Unes set 

 in deep water for cod. In the spring months, the 

 Edinburgh market has a daily supply, and so great 

 is the demand, that no less than a dozen cart loads 

 are sold during the week. Some persons cook them 

 when newly caught, others dress them in the salted 

 condition, while others again allow them to hang in 

 the open air for weeks, until they have acquired a 

 green putrescent appearance, and in this state they 

 are considered a luxury. The pectoral fins are the 

 parts generally made use of as food, and when cut 

 in a peculiar form are sold under the name of 

 Crimped-skate, which is esteemed a delicate mor- 

 sel/' * 



(Sp. 238.) R. margmata. Bordered Ray. This 

 species is so designated on account of having a broad 

 dusky border on the under side, the other parts of 

 the same surface being white. The skin is smooth, 

 and the snout moderately lengthened, the lateral 

 margins for a small space near the tip nearly paral- 

 lel. It was first described by Lacepede, and in this 

 country specimens have been found at Liverpool, 

 Brighton, Weymouth, and Lyme-Regis. Although 

 frequent in the Mediterranean, its habits are little 

 known, and it never seems to reach a large size. 



(Sp. 239.) R. microcellata. Small-eyed Ray. 



The characters presented by this species are very 



strongly marked, but it is extremely rare, and we 



know but little of its habits. All the information 



* Fishes of the Firth of Forth, p. 426. 



