416 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



ANG-EL EAY — Rhina squatina. 

 A male of 34 inches was immature in May. A male of 36 and a female of 27 inctes 

 ■were spent in July. Bloch says this fish hrings forth its young in the Spring and 

 Autumn. 



TORPEDO— Torpedo nohiliana (?) 

 A female of 32 inches was half ripe in May. This is an oviparous form. 



GREY SKATE — Raia hatis. 



43 mature examples were examined, of which 18 were males and 26 females. In 

 March, 2 males and 4 females were approaching ripeness ; in April, 2 males were 

 approaching ripeness, and 1 male and 1 female were ripe ; in May, 5 males and 7 females 

 were approaching ripeness; 2 males and 4 females were ripe, and 5 females nearly ripe; 

 in June, 1 male was ripe, and 1 female was spent ; in July, 2 females were ripe, and 

 1 male and 1 female were spent ; in August, 2 males and 3 females were spent. The 

 species appears to spawn therefore in the spring and early summer, as far as our ohser- 

 vations help us ; but Beard has shown that on the Scotch coast spawning goes on to 

 some extent all the year round, hut principally, according to his experience, in March 

 and April. 1 female was ripe at 5 to 10 fathoms, 1 at 10 fathoms, and 8 between 20 

 and 50 fathoms. It would seem therefore that the Grey Skate spawns sometimes in 

 shallow, but probably more usually at some considerable depth. 



Some females were probably ripe in May at 74 to 80 fathoms ; but as there is a con- 

 fusion between several species in the records, I have omitted them from consideration. 



SHARP-NOSED SKATE — Raia oxyrhynchus. 

 3 females were examined. ^ 1 was half- ripe at 38 fathoms in April ; 1 was in the 

 same condition at 375 to 500 fathoms in May, and 1 was ripe at 25 fathoms in June. 

 The species appears to be everywhere confined to rather deep water, and probably there 

 is no special habitat for spawning, which seems to take place during the Summer. 



SHAGREEN RAY — Raia fullonica. 

 7 were examined, of which 2 were immature. In April, 1 male was ripe, and 

 2 females were approaching ripeness (1 nearly ripe). In August, 1 male andl female 

 were spent. The ripe male occurred at 70 fathoms, and the nearly ripe female at 154 

 fathoms. None were taken in less than 32 fathoms. 



THORNBACK — Raia clavata. 

 In March, 1 male and 3 females were approaching ripeness, and 2 males and 1 female 

 were ripe. In April, 1 male and 8 females were approaching ripeness, 1 male and 

 11 females ripe.^ In May, 8 females were approaching ripeness, 6 males and 3 females 

 ripe, 3 males and 2 females spent ; 18 males are recorded as ripe and spent, and 

 17 females as nearly ripe, ripe and spent in the same month. In Jime, 2 males and 

 1 female were approaching ripeness, 11 males and 6 females ripe, 1 male and 7 females 



1 Dr. Scharff teUs me that some large skate, which after examination of a " Harle- 

 quin" specimen he thinks must have belonged to this species,- was amongst those cap- 

 tured in 74 to 80 fathoms off the Skelligs in May, 1890 (St. 8). From the records it 

 appears that of 20 skates and rays, examined " ew bloe,^^ 11 females were half ripe and 

 6 were ripe, all males being immature. 



