284 NOTES AND MEMOEANDA. 



way from the tip of the snout to the outer angle of the wings ran a 

 band of spines embedded in the fleshy the points projecting inwards as 

 do the spines seen on the dorsal surfaces of the wings of male skates 

 generally. This band was about 2 inches broad. The body was 

 extremely thick^ being to the grey skate what the body of a halibut 

 is to that of a turbot. The tail was not long in proportion to the 

 body^ and was provided with spines in a somewhat unusual manner. 

 Starting from the body^ three rows were visible, but the outer one 

 rapidly developed into a band similar to, though narrower than, that 

 described for the anterior margin of the wings. These spines were, 

 however, not embedded in the flesh of the tail. The skin of the 

 back was not so smooth as in B. batis, nor so rough and shagreen- 

 like as in B. macrorhynchus. 



Baia alba, the white skate, is mentioned in Couch under the 

 names Burton skate and Bordered ray. The latter name arises on 

 account of the appearance of the young. 



About ten days after noticing the large example, the fisherman of 

 the Association brought in a young specimen. The name bordered 

 ray would be appropriate in this case. The spines are again present 

 between the region of the mouth and the snout and down the 

 anterior margin of the wings, but on the tail are three rows of large 

 spines only, a central row of fifteen, and on each side a marginal 

 row of eleven, much curved and pointing directly backwards. The 

 colour of the back is a light olive-brown, of the under side white 

 centrally, shading through yellow into a broad dirty brown-coloured 

 border. The under surface of the tail is also like the border to the 

 wings. These young bordered rays were said by Thompson to be 

 plentiful in Portland Roads. The adult skate is recorded on the 

 south coast, from Weymouth (Goose), Lyme Regis (Jarrell), off 

 Cornwall and Plymouth (Day). It appears only to frequent deep 

 water, but must deposit its eggs in shallower water, the young being 

 found in this situation. — W. L. C. 



Young Lobsters. — On the 30th March I received from Mr. Dunn, 

 of Mevagissey, an associate member of the Association, three 

 lobsters of a very interesting size. They were all alive, and 

 measured as follows : — 9*6 cm., a male; ll"5cm., a female ; 13'1 cm., 

 a female, the measurements in each case being from the tip of the 

 rostrum to the end of the telson. 



I am not aware that anyone has ever recorded the capture of a 

 lobster of adult form so small as 9*6 cm., or roughly 3| inches 

 long.— W. L. C. 



A New British Nemertine.— On March 22nd a nemertine worm was 



