Holt — Survey of Fishing Grounds, West Coast of Ireland. 469 



GREY SKATE— i?«i« hatis. 



During May, June, and July, 31 stomachs were examined. 4 were empty. The 

 distribution of the food in the remaining 27 stomachs cannot he exactly gathered 

 from the Records. It appears, however, that Fish occurred in about 50 per cent., 

 Sandeels rather frequently. Witch in one. Crustaceans in about 40 per cent., chiefly 

 unidentified Crabs and Common Shrimps. Echinoderms and Gastropods (including 

 Fiisus) were each found in one or two stomachs. 



During the remainder of the Survey, 33 stomachs were examined. 11 were empty. 

 2 contained indistinguishable matter. Of the remaining 22, Crustaceans occurred in 

 11 stomachs, 50 per cent; Common Shrimps in 6 ; Prawns, Falccmon, in 4 ; Fandalus 

 in 1 ; Swimming Crabs in 3 ; unidentified Crustaceans in 1 ; Fish in 15, 68 per cent. ; 

 Whitiag in 2 ; Dragonet, Pollack, Sand-eels, Flounder, and Argentina, each in 1 ; 

 unidentified fish in 7. One large example had seized a Picked Dog already hooked. 



The Grey Skate thus appears to feed almost entirely on Fish and Crustaceans, with 

 an occasional Mollusc and Echinoderm. The preference is somewhat in favour of fish, 

 As Mr. Smith lumps all species of Skate together, his observations on the Scotch Coast 

 do not help us. 



SHAEP-NOSED ^'KA.TY.—Raia oxijrhynchus. 

 2 stomachs were examined. Both contained fish. Young Argentina were found 

 in the stomach of a specimen from 375 to 500 fathoms ; Cepola rubescens in one from 

 25 fathoms. 



SHAGREEN ^AX—RaiafuUonica. 



6 stomachs were examined. 3 were empty. The remaining 3 contained fish, viz. 

 Dragonet in 1 ; unidentified fish in 2. 



THORNBACK— -Saia clavata. 



During May, June, and July, 1890, 119 stomachs were examined. 18 were empty. 

 3 contained matter which could not be identified. The distribution of the food in the 

 remaining 108 stomachs cannot be exactly gathered from the Records. It appears, 

 however, that Crustaceans formed the largest contribiition, chiefly Hermits and Crabs, 

 including a few Swimming Crabs and Spider Crabs {Stenorhynehun), with a certain 

 number of Amphipods, Schizopods, and Common Shrimps. Fish contributed a slightly 

 smaller share. Of these. Sand-eels were identified in several stomachs ; Wrasse, Cod, 

 and Dab, each in 1 . Annelids and Lamellibranchs each contributed a smaller share ; 

 about 12 per cent. Of the former. Sea Mice {Aphrodite) were rather frequent, and 

 Lugworms and Nereis occurred each in 1 stomach. Lamellibranchs consisted chiefly 

 of Siphons (of Mya and other forms not identified), with some ScaUops {Pecten) and 

 Razor Shells {Solen). Echinoderms, Gastropods (Common Whelks), and Cephalopoda 

 were of very rare occurrence. 



During the remainder of the Survey, 71 stomachs were examined. 17 were empty, 

 and 1 contained indistinguishable matter. Of the remaining 53, Echinoderms occurred 

 in 3, 5 per cent. ; Annelids in 14, 26 per cent.; Sea Mice {Aphrodite) in 8 ; Nephthys, 

 in 1 ; unidentified Annelids in 5 ; Crustaceans in 46, 86 per cent. ; Swimming Crabs 

 in 12 ; Gonoplax in 8 ; Common Shrimps and Mask Crabs (Corystes), each in 7 ; 

 Cymothoa and Hermits, each in 6 ; Prawns {Talesman) in 4 ; Norway Lobsters {Ne- 

 phrops) and Atelecyclus, each in 3 ; Gehia and unidentified Crabs, each in 2 ; Schizo- 

 pods in 1 ; unidentified Crustaceans in 6 ; Lamellibranchs in 8, 15 per cent. ; Siphons 



