CHONDROPTERYGII. 189 



has seen a Shark leap from the water, and fall into 

 a boat, much lacerated by a Saw-fish. The Medi- 

 terranean species (P. Antiquorum) attains a great 

 length. 



Squatina,* the Angel. 



Intermediate between the Sharks and Rays, the 

 Angels, or Monk-fishes as they are also called, 

 have the mouth at the end of the snout, instead of 

 beneath, and the eyes on the upper part of the head : 

 the body is broad and flat, and the pectorals so 

 large, as to have given the name of Angel, as if 

 winged. They grovel on the bottom, where they 

 voraciously prey on the small Flat-fish. 



jS. RAYS. 

 Rhinobatus, the Shark-ray. 



The Rays or Skates are strongly marked by their 

 flattened, and more or less lozenge-shaped bodies, 

 caused by the immense size of their pectorals, which 

 are united in front of the head, and extend back to 

 the commencement of the ventrals. The eyes are si- 

 tuated on the upper surface, the mouth, nostrils, and 

 gill-apertures on the lower. The dorsals are usually 

 on the tail. The Rays appear to represent the true 

 Flat-fishes, to which they have many points of resem- 

 blance. 



There seems, at first sight, to be a great difference 



* Squatina, Lat. a Skate, t 'P/vj, rhine, a Skate, and /3ro? , batos, a thorn. 



