RAYS. 313 



purses. In the nortli of England, they are 

 called Skate-barrows, from their obvious resem- 

 blance in form to a hand-barrow. As the inclosed 

 young grows, the angular projections of the pec- 

 toral fins bend over upon the body, and thus room 

 is aiForded for the little creature to attain that 



EGG OF SKATE. 



size- and maturity which are requisite for it, 

 when it forces its way out at an elastic crevice, 

 to procure its living in freedom. 



The Rays, like the Pleuronectidce or Flat- 

 fishes of the Osseous Orders, to which they pos- 

 sess many curious analogies, are strictly ground- 

 feeders. They habitually grovel along on the 

 soft muddy bottom^ moving with a peculiar undu- 



