LONG-NOSED SKATE. 419 



estimation in different places. In London, particularly, 

 large quantities are consumed, and the flesh is considered 

 delicate and well-flavoured ; but on some parts of the coast, 

 though caught in considerable numbers, both by lines and 

 nets, the flesh is seldom devoted to any purpose beyond that 

 of baiting pots for catching crabs and lobsters. 



Skate are in the best condition for the table during au- 

 tumn and winter. In spring, and in the early part of sum- 

 mer, they are usually maturing eggs or young, and their 

 flesh is then soft and woolly. 



The Long-nosed Skate is immediately distinguished from 

 any other Skate found on the British coast, not only by the 

 great length of the nose, but also by the distance between its 

 most extreme point and the transverse line of the mouth ; cha- 

 racters particularly observable in comparison with the species 

 next in order, with which it most assimilates in colour. 

 The snout is very much produced, narrow and sharp, slen- 

 der as far as the eyes, from whence the body dilates gradually 

 to its greatest breadth, which is behind the centre ; the 

 whole fength of the body and tail one-third longer than the 

 width. On the upper surface the body is slightly roughened, 

 and of a light lead colour ; the tail rather more rough, with 

 a row of large crooked spines on each side of the central line, 

 and this species is observed never to have more or less than 

 these two lateral rows ; the small fins on the tail not far remov- 

 ed from each other, the second about its own length from the 

 end. The under surface is a dirty greyish white, marked 

 with dusky specks like the true Skate next to be described ; 

 but the body is thinner in substance than either that or the 

 Sharp-nosed Skate : the nostrils are lobed ; the mouth nar- 

 row ; the teeth in old males sharp, with frequently nine or 

 ten spines above the eyes ; on the snout two rows of minute 

 tubercular spines ; behind the head seven or eight spines 



