GEN. RATA. SHARP-NOSED BAY. 325 



breadth of the body is behind the centre. The 

 colour of the surface is a light leaden hue, the under 

 side greyish Avhite, with numerous dusky specks. 

 It is further stated that it frequents deep water, and 

 is not caught through the winter. 



(Sp. 235.) R. oxyrhynclius. Sharp-nosed Ray. 

 In this species the snout is also very long, but it is 

 narrower than in R. mucronata, the lateral margins 

 in a moderately sized fish running nearly parallel to 

 each other for three or four inches at the extremity ; 

 the outline from the base of the snout to the widest 

 portion of the body, which is behind the middle, 

 waved ; the colour on the under side white, without 

 specks or spots. It is one of the largest of the Bri- 

 tish Rays ; an individual obtained by Pennant in 

 the Menai measured nearly seven feet in length, 

 and five feet two inches in breadth; and others 

 have often been found measuring six feet. It is also 

 thicker in proportion than any of its congeners. It 

 is probably this superior fleshiness that renders it so 

 much in request by the French, whose boats come 

 to Plymouth during Lent to purchase skate,' which 

 they preserve fresh and moist during the run back 

 to their own coast by keeping them covered with 

 wet sand. * It is known by various names in dif- 

 ferent parts of the country, such as White-skate, 

 Burton-skate, Friar- skate, May-skate, &c. It has 

 been taken on the coasts of all the three kingdoms, 

 and in some places is by no means rare, 



(Sp. 236.) R. infennedia. Flapper-skate. This 

 * Yarrell's Brit. Fishes, vol. ii. p. 557. 



