Sting and Eagle Rays. 169 



Evidently it is not so plentiful as the thornback and true skate. 

 Our information as to the Homelyn's movements, food, repro- 

 duction and growth are meagre. 



Fam. Trygonidae. The STING BAY (Trygon pastinacd) is 

 known at Leigh as the " Fireslower," and in the Blackwater as 

 " Festlaw " or " Fierce-claw," or " Fire-flare." The fishermen 

 give it a wide berth when brought onboard. The expression is, 

 ' : It flies about terrific," and will dab its tail-spine through your 

 boot hence take care to stand clear. The first thing the men do 

 is to chop off its tail. This fish is not eaten as food, but the liver 

 is taken out and boiled for oil, the body being cast overboard. 

 Occasionally the tail spine is cut out and used as a netting- 

 needle, or for stringing flat fish together. The Sting Ray is 

 not abundant in the Thames estuary, those taken being more 

 frequently of small dimensions. These last in the spring 

 months are no bigger than half to a palm's breadth, exclusive 

 of tail. Around the Kent coast and at Burnham specimens 

 1J to 2 feet and more in diameter are not uncommon. The 

 Leighmen are of opinion that they have decreased in numbers, 

 but the evidence is not convincing, as the fishing is now con- 

 ducted differently. 



At present the chief place where this Ray is found is among 

 the Maplin Swins or in the Blackwater. It has been observed 

 that ordinarily they are more numerous on the Essex rather 

 than Kent shore of upper estuary. But its capture at Herne 

 Bay and elsewhere shows they are not entirely absent on the 

 Kentish side of the water, and we find it is represented about 

 Dover and southern coast. Besides, Boys recognised it among 

 his Kent fishes more than a century ago. 



Fam. Myliobatidse. The EAGLE RAY (Myliobatis aquila) has 

 a certain resemblance to the last, in having a tail spine, and 

 long whip-shaped tail without terminal fin. The " wings " 

 (pectoral fins) however extend out more wedge-shaped, and 

 the head is distinct from the disk. Occasionally small specimens 

 have been captured nigh Dover (Webb) ; it is got on the 



