OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 



'95 



confers so much grace upon their movements in the water, 

 and which may be more suitably likened to the flight of 

 some heavy-winged bird, such as a Heron, than to the 

 swimming action of an ordinary fish. The simile here 

 suggested is yet further increased by reason of the fact 

 that the long slender tail of the Ray, dependent in the rear 

 while the fish is swimming, bears no inconsiderable resem- 

 blance, and fulfils the same function as the long extended 





FIG. 30. SPOTTED RAY (Raia maculata). 



legs of the Heron or other Grallatorial bird during flight, it 

 being subservent in like manner for balancing and steering 

 purposes. The Rays, like the Spotted Dog-fish, deposit 

 their eggs enclosed singly in large oblong membranous 

 cases, the four corners of which are produced into simple 

 tags like the four handles of a butcher's tray, in place of 

 into long flexible cord-like filaments. These cases, when 

 empty, having the aspect and colour of gutta-percha, and 



O 2 



