CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 113 



beginning that of Pislies, wherein I shall crave yom* 

 assistance, especially as to the flat cartilaginous kind, 

 and the several sorts of Aselli [the family of the Cod-fishes, 

 Gadida] ; especially I desire information about the Cole- 

 fish \_Merlanpis carhonariui\ of Turner, which I suppose 

 may sometimes come to York. When I was in Northum- 

 berland I saw of them salted and dried, but could not 

 procure any of them new taken. Besides the common 

 Cod-fish \j\Iorrhua vulgaris], the Haddock [][forrhua cegle- 

 Jinus], Whiting \]^Ierlangus vulgaris], and Ling \Lota 

 molva'], I have in Cornwall seen and described three 

 other sorts of Aselli, from which I would gladly know 

 whether the Cole-fish be specifically distinct. I am also 

 at a loss about the Codling* of Turner, what manner of fish 

 it should be, and how certainly difierenced from the Cod- 

 fish. Of the flat cartilaginous I have seen and described 

 four or five sorts, but I am to seek what our fishermen 

 mean by the Skate [Baia hatis\ and what by Flair [Fire- 

 flaire, the Sting Hay, Trygon pasti?iacd], and what by 

 Maid.f By the affinity of name one would think that 

 the Skate should be Squatina, which yet I believe it is 

 not. The sorts of Raia that I have seen and described are 

 the Thornback, or Maia clavata, a certain and character- 

 istic note of which is want of teeth. 2. The Baia Icevis 

 vulg. 3. Raia lavis oculata, with only two black spots 

 on the back, one on each side. 4. The Baia Oxyrhyn- 

 chos. 5. The Bhinobatos, or Squatano-raia. Rondeletius, 

 and the following authors out of him, have many more 

 sorts. But I have not time to add more, than that 



I am, &c. 

 Middleton, Dec. 19, —74. 



* A name for the young of the Cod-fish. 



f A name bestowed on the females of several species — as Skate-maid, 

 Homelyn-maid, Thomback-maid, &c. &c. 



8 



