564 THE STARRY RAT. 



June and July, and continues for a long time. From 

 observations made by the late Professor B. Fries, it seems 

 probable that the egg is not vivified until after being 

 produced by the female, and that she only deposits a 

 single one at a time, with some interval between each. 

 The ' egg ' oblong-square in form, with a short projec- 

 tion at each corner is protected by a thin leather-like; 

 covering of a grey-brown colour. The fishermen say the 

 fry is of slow growth." 



The Thornback is captured by the line and in nets. 

 " Its flesh," says Ekstrom, " is considered very inferior, 

 being white and flabby, and having a disagreeable and 

 insipid taste. It is seldom or 'never eaten fresh by the 

 inhabitants of the Bohus Skiirgurd, but, after being salted 

 and dried, is disposed of to the peasants in the sur- 

 rounding country, who prepare it as Liit-fixlt '' a very 

 singular and favourite dish, which is peculiar to Sweden, I 

 think, but which space does not admit of my describing. 

 Kroyer speaks equally unfavourably of the eatable qua- 

 lities of this fish, which is remarkable, as Yarrell and 

 others say that in England it is prized for the table. 



The Starry Hay (h'lo-Ktx-kn, or claw-ray, Sw. ; Twin-, 

 Dan. ; K. /-nilitilit, Donov.), a northern fish, and rare, as 

 it would seem, in England, is captured occasionally in 

 the Bohus Sks'irgiird. It is also found along the whole 

 western coast of both Sweden and Norway, from the 

 North Cape to the entrance of the Baltic, into which, 

 it is imagined, some few find their way. It is the 

 smallest of the Scandinavian rays. Kroyer says that 

 out of the great number be has seen not one exceeded 

 eighteen inches in length, and he is of opinion that 

 it does not attain to any considerable size ; but Nilsson 

 speaks of a specimen that came under his notice which 

 measured t\\ent\-one indies. According to Kroyer, "it 

 dwells in shallower water than any other of our rays, 



