74 LECTURE VIII. 



sometimes weighing at least two hundred pounds ; 

 its general colour on the upper side is pale brown, 

 with deeper variegations, and white, tinged with 

 flesh-colour beneath. It is found in great plenty 

 about the European coasts. Like the rest of the 

 genus the Skate may be termed oviviviparous, dis- 

 charging its young, each in a kind of oblong square 

 capsule or pouch. 



Some species of Ray are furnished with a very 

 long and slender tail, towards the middle of which 

 is attached a long, sharp, serrated spine, which the 

 animal uses both as an offensive and defensive 

 weapon : the wounds it inflicts with this spine are 

 considered as highly dangerous, but the effect is 

 produced by the mere puncture and laceration of 

 the instrument, and not by any poisonous fluid, of 

 which, as we have before had occasion to observe, 

 all the fish tribe is destitute. 



Among the most remarkable fishes of this 

 genus, are those which are distinguished by a sort 

 of forked or two-lobed head, with the side or pec- 

 toral fins extending to a great distance on each 

 side. These kinds of Rays grow to a vast size, 

 and are chiefly found in the Indian and American 



