GEN. SQUATINA. ANGEL-FISH. 319 



Squalidse and Raiidae, it not agreeing exactly with 

 either. 



(Sp. 231.) S. angelus. Angel-fish, Monk-fish, 

 Shark-ray. The depressed form, rounded head, with 

 the eyes on the upper surface, and the singularly ex- 

 pansive pectoral fins, give this fish a very peculiar 

 and not very agreeable appearance, whence probably 

 it has been called angel-fish in ridicule ; it is usually, 

 however, said to be so called from the pectoral fins 

 having the appearance of wings, and monk-fish, 

 from the fancied similarity of the head to a monk's 

 cowl. It is by no means rare on our coasts, espe- 

 cially in the southern parts of the kingdom, and also 

 occurs in Ireland. It- is occasionally taken in the 

 Firth of Forth, where it is known to the fishermeit 

 by the name of Mongrel-skate. It sometimes reaches 

 the length of eight feet, but British examples are 

 usually much less. It appears to resemble the rays 

 in its habits, swimming close to the bottom, and 

 feeding on the smaller fishes found in such places, 

 and even at times partially concealing itself among 

 the sand and mud. Although its skin is not so 

 well adapted for polishing wood and other substances 

 as that of many other of the sharks, it has been long 

 employed for that purpose, in so much that the fish 

 was described by Aristotle under the name of /vjj, 

 a file, in reference to this circumstance. 



