424 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



(I. Snout sharp, more or less elongated.) 



Rata batis.* — The Skate. 



Specific Characters. — Body on the upper surface rough, of a grey 

 colour beneath ; no spines in front of the eyes. (See Plate XL.) 



Description. — From a female specimen two feet in length, the tail 

 included. Body rhomboidal ; the distance from the tip of one pec- 

 toral to that of the other, equalling the space between the point of 

 the snout and the last spine but six on the tail ; from the point of 

 the snout to the temporal orifice, one-third the length, as far as the 

 end of the anal fin, and one-fourth the length to the commencement 

 of the first dorsal. Body thin ; snout pointed, conical ; pectorals 

 large, somewhat of a triangular form, uniting in front at the snout, 

 and terminating at the base of the ventrals ; the anterior margins 

 nearly straight, the posterior margins rounded; ventrals about twice 

 as long as they are broad, each composed of five rays ; the first ray 

 stout and flat, the third the longest, giving a rounded form to the 

 extremity of the fin ; anals commencing close behind the ventrals, 

 the outer margin of each rounded, terminating below in a free point, 

 composed of twenty rays ; the middle rays rather the longest, the first 

 ray taking its origin with the last ray of the ventral. Tail short, con- 

 siderably less than the length of the body, when reflected not reaching 

 beyond the anterior part of the orbit ; along the mesial line is a row of 

 spines or tubercles, about sixteen in number, commencing at the base 

 of the anal, and terminating at the commencement of the first dorsal ; 

 there is also frequently a solitary spine between the two dorsals ; 

 each tubercle has a broad oval base, and a sharp point directed back- 

 ward. In adult specimens there are three rows of spines on the tail, 

 the two lateral ones having the points of the spine pointing outwards, 

 but not upwards, as Mr Yarrell has represented in his figure of the 

 skate. (Vol. ii. p. 421.) The lateral spines are frequently very few, 

 sometimes not exceeding six in number. First dorsal fin small, 

 rounded at the free extremity ; the length about equalling the base ; 

 placed at a short distance from the end of the tail ; second dorsal 

 rather smaller than the first and about the same form, commencing 

 at a short distance from its termination ; caudal fin rudimentary. 

 Colour of the upper surface of a dusky grey, occasionally with a pale 

 yellowish tinge ; under surface of a dusky bluish-; rey, marked with 

 a number of dark specks, particularly about the under surface of the 



* Raia balls, Linn., Yarr., Penn., Don., Flem. Blue Ska te^Grey Skate. 



