THE FISHES OF THE IRISH SEA. 67 



RAIA CLAVATA, Linn. Thornback Ray. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 343, PI. CLXXI.) 

 (Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) Local name, "Ray." 

 This is " the Ray" of our local fishermen. It is found all round the coasts of Europe 

 and into the Mediterranean, and is abundant in our district. It is caught both by trawls and 

 lines all round the Irish sea at all times of the year. 



RAIA MACULATA, Mont. Spotted Ray. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 345, PL CLXXII.) 



(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) 



This species ranges from our coasts southwards to the Mediterranean, Byerley records 

 it from the entrance to the Dee estuary, and we have found it off the banks round the mouth 

 of the Mersey. We trawled it off the Liverpool Bar on May 2Oth, 1901. It is not uncom- 

 monly taken on long 1 lines off Port Erin. White records it from Menai Straits. Mr. E. W. L. 

 Holt informs us that this species is generally confused with R. blanda which he and Mr. 

 Calderwood described in 1895*. He thinks it probable that both species occur in our district, 

 but we have not yet distinguished Raia blanda. 



RAIA RADIATA, Don. Starry Ray. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 347, PI. CLXXII I.) 



This is essentially a northern species, extending from Iceland to the English Channel, or 

 rarely to the coasts of France. 



In our district it is caught occasionally by the trawl on hard ground at all times of the 

 year, on the " off-shore" grounds. Menai Straits (White). 



RAIA CIRCULARIS, Couch. Cuckoo Ray. 



(Day's British Fishes, vol. II., p. 348, PI. CLXXI V.) 



(Fish. Mus., Zool. Dep., Univ. Coll., Liverpool.) 



This species ranges over the shores of Western Europe and into the Mediterranean, 

 but is rare in many parts. 



It is recorded from Dublin Bay and other parts of the East Coast of Ireland ; Menai 

 Straits (White), and we have found it on the Lancashire Coast, but it is not common. 



(?) RAIA MIRALETUS, Couch Sandy Ray. 



(Couch, Fish. Brit. Isles, vol. L, p. 112, PI. XXVII.) 



Mr. E. W. L. Holt writes to us as follows in regard to this and the last species : 

 " R. circularis (of Giinther and Day) includes two species. One has distinct alar ocelli. The 

 other is almost uniform in colour, with some small white blotches. I have never got at the 

 bottom of their synonymy, but if you call them R. circularis, Couch, and R. miraletus, Couch, 

 folk will know what you mean. I am sure you have them both." 



In regard to other species of Raia possibly present in our area, Mr. Holt adds : " It is 

 quite likely that you also have R. fullonica and R. microcellata, the former in deep water to the 

 north, the latter stowed away in some isolated bay : his habitat seems to have been blown up 

 with a bomb-shell." 



* See Trans. R, Dublin Soc., vol. V., p. 395. 



