FISHES. 585 



in shallower water than any other shark, and in mid- 

 summer comes nearly to the surface in chase of viviparous 

 blennies. This is the only species which is eaten here, 

 and in West Finmark they not only eat the fish but use 

 the eggs for pancakes. 



Fam. KAIEDA-KISSO. 



Body very much flattened, resembling in shape a disk, 

 the two sides which meet to form the lateral angle, forming 

 the pectoral fins ; mouth, nostrils, and gill openings on the 

 under side ; eyes and spiraculge on the upper side ; tail long 

 and thin, with the dorsal fin almost always upon it, gene- 

 rally very near its end. 



These fish, in many respects, stand very near to the 

 sharks. 



Gen. Raia, Cuv. 



Body rhomboidical ; nose more or less elongated; the 

 long pectorals encircle the whole of the sides of the body 

 and head ; tail small, with two small dorsals on the top of it, 

 and one small caudal fin at the end ; the bodies of all are 

 more or less covered with small spines. 



1. Blunt nosed. 



Nose forming, with the exception of perhaps a small tip, 

 a blunt angle. 



Professor Fries draws a straight transverse line through 

 the eyes, and another longitudinally between the eyes to 

 the tip of the nose ; if this last is as long or longer than the 

 first, the ray is sharp, if on the contrary, blunt nosed. 



173. EAJA CLAVATA, L. Knaggrocka. The Thornback. D. 

 Body above and below, covered with large spines ; 

 three rows of thick thorns along the ridge of the tail, of 

 which the middle row are the largest, extending more or 

 less to the body ; dorsals distinct, with one or more thorns 

 between them ; usual length 2 to 3 ft. ; colour variable, 

 generally reddish grey-brown above, sparingly spotted 

 with whitish dots, beneath white. 



