262 PLAGIOSTOMI. 



entirely over with minute spots of a dark grey colour ; it agreed with 

 every character Jenyns attributes to the species. 



Oct. 14, 18;59. Having examined the above specimen, I find the skin 

 slightly roughened both above and beneath with minute tubercles, con- 

 sequently it does not in a dry (as it did in a recent) state correspond with 

 Yarr. and Jenyns' descriptions in this respect. 



The Thornback, Eaia clavata, Will., 



Is taken around the coast. 



Juhj 2(3fJi, 1838. I examined two female specimens, each about 3 feet 

 in length, taken in Belfast Bay. They respectively contain eggs, varying 

 from the size of a point to those in the horny cases ready for exclusion. 



No. 1 has (excepting the spines on the ridge of the back) only two 

 large tubercles on upper side, and a single rudimentary one at one eye : 

 on under side it has four. Its stomach contained full-grown specimens 

 of Cancer x-elutinus, C. mcenas, and ('. JJeniJiardus, a small Modiola papu- 

 ana, | inch long, and a codlbuj 9 inches in length : this poor victim had 

 a hook firmly grasped in its mouth, the line was cut just above the hook, 

 so that little more than the hook (a very powerful one) remained. 



No. 2 had, in addition to large spines on ridge of tail, two at one eye 

 and three at the other ; and one on each side, near the margin of the body, 

 in a line with the 1st eye ; besides these there were but two other tuber- 

 cles on upper side, on under side four. 



Teeth round in both, as figured in Yarrell, vol. ii. p. 416 [1st edition]. 

 Colour of upper side in both a duly brown of different shades, with large 

 obscure whitish or paler spots and markings, and small black spots like- 

 wise scattered over it. 



Aiifi. 8fJi, 1838. Two small specimens, about 14 inches long, that were 

 brought to me, were beautifully marked all over with circular white spots, 

 each surrounded by a narrow black ring. 



Aug. 22nd, 1840. Received a M. clavata, about 20 inches long, taken 

 at Bangor; it was filled with the slender-legged crab, Stenorynchus 

 Phalangiani. 



Auc/. 2()tJi, 1840. Received four specimens (male and female), about 

 20 inches long, captured in Belfast Bay. One was filled Mith shrimps ; 

 another contained remains of brachyurous Crustacea and two specimens 

 oi Pandalus annidicornis ; a third, remains of specimens of Stenori/nchtis 

 Phahuif/iiim, and other crabs ; the fourth, remains of Crustacea. 



Mr. Bernard Meenan says this fish is the best liked of the rays for eating, 

 by our fishermen.* Rays will hardly sell in Belfast market, but there is 

 another kind in Scotland better liked there : the fishermen keep all sp. 

 of rays, when bait is scarce, for buckie-creels, cut ofi" the tail, and take out 

 the entrails, and hang the fish in the chimney to dry. Has seen some 

 rays (sp. ?) 2 cwt., it requires two men to carry them : this applies to 

 Carrickfergus, where the fishermen say they distinguish four kinds of 

 ray, not including the Sting Ray. 



The Sandy Ray, Eaia Radula, Delar., 



Has been obtained on the N. E. and E. coast. 



It was added to our Catal. by the Ordnance collectors, as noticed in my 

 report on the Fauna of Ireland, and in Yarr. B. F., 2nd ed. vol. ii. p. 



* Young or half-grown only eaten, the old ones are too tough or hard. 



