386 



Survey of Fishing-Grounds J West Coast of Ireland., 1890—1891. 



though the fact has not been definitely recorded, certainly occurs on tlie Faroe 

 " banks " at depths exceeding 100 fathoms. As it is common in shallow water, it 

 appears to have a vertical range practically coterminous with that of the Batoidei 

 as a whole. 



Raia oxyrhynchus (Linn.). The Long-nosed Skate. (Deep-sea.) 



Raia oxyrhynchus, 



n 5) 



Raia chagrinea, 



Raia vomer, 



1} 



5J 





Raia rostrata, 

 Raia salviana, 

 Raia mucronota, 



jj 



LiNN^us, "Syst. Nat.," i., p. 395. 

 GiJNTHER, "Cat.," viii., p. 469. 

 Day, " Fish Great Brit.," ii., p. 341. 

 Yaerell, "Brit. Fish" (ed. 1), ii., p. 414. 

 GiJNTHER, "Cat.," viii., p. 468. 

 CoLLETT, " Forb Videns," 1879, p. 106. 

 LiLLJEBOEG, " Sverig. o. Norg. Fish.," iii., p. 598. 

 Yarrell, " Brit. Fish" (ed. 3), ii., p. 548. 

 Risso, " Ich. Nice.," p. 7. 



MULLER & HUNLE, p. 143. 



Yarrell, " Brit. Fish," (ed. 2), ii., p. 550. 

 Couch, " Cornish Fauna," p. 25. 



Diagnosis of Species. — The width of the disk about one-tenth greater than its 

 length ; the anterior margin deeply concave. Outer angle of pectoral fin somewhat 

 pointed. Snout much elongated and pointed, contained about three times in the 

 width of the disk. Eyes elongated and flattened ; in young examples about equal 

 to width of inter-orbital space, which, in adults, equals the combined length of the 

 eye and spiracle. Supraorbital ridge inconspicuous. Spiracles small, measuring 

 transversly half the length of the eye. Distance from tip of snout to lateral angle 

 of mouth equal to distance from same point to posterior margin of eye. Teeth 

 pointed in both sexes, with a central keel, which is inconsjjicuous in young 

 examples. 



No large spines on disk. Tail with a row along each lateral edge,* and a 

 median row, which is incomplete or absent in large examples. Both upper and 

 under surfaces of the disk and tail covered with small spinules, but in young 

 specimens the greater part of the upper surface is smooth. 



Colours grey or greyish brown superiorly, frequently with a few whitish and 

 dark-brown spots or streaks. The under surface a dark grey. 



The long-nosed skate appears to occur with the greatest frequency ofE the coast 

 of France and in the Mediterranean. It has been taken as far south as Madeira. 



These rows are probably absent iu very young specimens, a central row being conspicuous. 



