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Family RAJIDA. 
Rasa, Linneeus, 1758. 
Raja nasuta Miiller and Henle. 
SKATE. 
Plate XIX and XXI, fig. 2. 
Raja nasuta Miller and Henle, Plagiostomen, 1838, p. 150. 
Stations 1-3, 5, 7-10, 13-16, 18-23, 25, 28-35, 39-44, 46-52, 54, 
57, 63, 65, 70-74, 76-78, 81, 86-89, 91, 94-96. 
Snout, from tip to anterior margin of orbit, 3°37 in the length of the 
disc ; head, 2°52 in the same. Interorbital space 3-7, width of mouth 
2-0, in the length of snout. 
Breadth of disc one-sixth greater than its length, its anterior 
margin undulated ; snout moderately produced, pointed; exposed 
portion of eye half the interorbital (cartilaginous) space, a fimbriated 
membrane over the upper part of the pupil. Spiracle close behind 
the eye. Mouth small, undulated, the gape a little further from the 
tip of the snout than is the eye. Internasal space equal to the width 
of the mouth. 
Teeth in thirty-six rows, with long sharp points in the male (in the 
female the front rows are tuberculate, the hinder ones spinous). Upper 
lip not free in the middle; nostrils not confluent with the mouth ; 
quadrangular flap frmged at the hinder corners. Gill-slits small ; 
if continued posteriorly the two series would meet in an acute angle. 
The skin generally is smooth, but roughened patches occur at the 
tip of the snout, above the rostral cartilage and at the middle of the 
anterior margin of the disc; the upper surface of the tail is also 
rough. The supraorbital ridge bears three to five spines; one to two 
occur in the mid-line of the back some distance behind the eyes, and a 
median row on the tail, one spine being placed between the dorsal 
fins. The anterior half of the front margin of the disc below, and 
beneath the snout and rostral cartilage, are roughened. 
The two dorsal fins are subequal, and are separated only by the 
spine ; second dorsal and caudal joined. Angle of the pectoral slightly 
obtuse. A well-marked fold along each side of the tail. 
Colour.—Brownish olive above, with white spots, disposed around 
dark-grey markings. The largest of the latter is oval in shape, as 
long as the space between the outer margins of the eyes, and lies mid- 
way between the mid-line and the angle of the pectoral on each side. 
Another, much smaller, is placed in front and one behind. Still 
smaller markings occur round the margin of the disc, and dark-grey 
spots are elsewhere disposed—a double series forms bands along the 
back and tail. Snout and margin of dise reddish; under-surface 
yellow, clouded with grey about the snout and mouth; the posterior 
margin of the disc is grey, and there is also a broad band well within 
