126 GENERA AND SPECIES. 



found at a greater depth than 500 fathoms. In the wholesale fish 

 trade the skate is grouped with the other rays and sundries as 

 " Roker." 



The Long-nosed Skate has the first dorsal larger than the other, 

 with no spine between them. The disk is concave in front and 

 almost straight behind ; the snout is very long and pointed. The 

 tail has a row of spines along each side, and no middle row. In 

 colour this species is greyish above, with spots and streaks, and 

 below it is greyish. It reaches 3 feet in length. 



The Flapper Skate has the dorsals nearly equal in size, with a 

 spine between them. The tail is half as long as the body. The disk 

 is concave in front, convex behind. The mouth is arched. There 

 are usually 2 spines in front of the eye ; and there are 3 rows of 

 spines on the tail, the side rows being incomplete. In colour this 

 species is brown above and white below, the under surface being 

 dotted with black. The length is 26 inches. 



The White Skate has the first dorsal larger than the second, and 

 there is a spine between them. There are 3 rows of spines on the 

 tail, and 3 large spines in the middle of the body. There are spines 

 on the under surface of the snout, and in the males there is a patch 

 of spines on each wing. The disk is waved in front, convex 

 behind, and broadest in the hinder half. The colour above is 

 greyish or brownish, below it is pure white. The length reaches 

 7 feet. 



The Shagreen Ray has 2 dorsals on the tail, and a well-developed 

 caudal, all three fins being at equal distances and close together. 

 There is no middle row of spines on the tail, but 2 or 3 lateral rows. 

 There are spines on the snout, round the upper edge of the eye, and 

 in the middle of the back. The disk is waved in front, slightly 

 convex behind, and widest in the front half. The mouth is large ; 

 there are 64 rows of teeth in the upper jaw, and 56 in the lower. In 

 colour this species is yellowish brown above and white below. In 

 length it reaches 37 inches. 



The Spotted Ray has the two dorsals of equal size, with a spine 

 between them. There is a spine on each shoulder, a row down the 

 back, 2 in front of each eye, 2 near its hinder edge, a few on the 

 snout, and the line down the back iseontinued along the tail, with a 

 row on each side of it. The male has a patch of hooked spines on 

 each wing. In colour, both above and below, this ray is brown with 

 black spots ; in length it reaches 45 inches. 



The Starry Ray has two dorsals of equal size and a small caudal, 

 all close together. The disk is heart-shaped, widest in the lower 

 half, the sides forming a continuous curve. It is dotted all over 

 with large, curved, thorny spines on radiating bases, the largest 

 being at equal distances along the tail. In colour it is sandy brown 

 without spots ; in length it reaches 20 inches. 



The Cuckoo Ray has the two dorsals of equal size, and without 

 an interspace. The caudal is very small. The disk is heart-shaped, 

 widest in the lower half, the sides forming a continuous curve. 

 There are many small spines. On the back is a diamond-shaped 



