428 PISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



free from spots or specks ; the body is remarkably depressed, more so 

 than that of the grey skate, and is not so dark a colour. Tail short, 

 with three rows of spines all pointing downwards." 



The Raia batis or Grey Skate has been frequently con- 

 founded with the Sharp-nosed Ray. The differences between 

 them, however, have been very clearly pointed out by Co- 

 lonel Montagu. " The Sharp-nosed Ray has a slender 

 snout, the margins of which, in a moderate sized fish, run 

 nearly parallel to each other, from three or four inches at 

 the extremity ; the snout of the Grey Skate, on the con- 

 trary, is truly conical. The Sharp-nosed Ray has its skin 

 quite smooth ; the Grey Skate is entirely rough above, or 

 granulated like a dog-fish, and partly so beneath. The 

 under part of the Sharp-nosed Ray is white without spots ; 

 the Grey Skate on that part is dusky grey, covered with 

 minute dusky spots, having a pale speck in the middle. 

 Both species have three rows of spines on the tail when ar- 

 rived at maturity, but those of the Grey Skate differ from 

 most other rays, by the points of the lateral rows turning 

 forward.* The teeth of both species are sharp, with a 

 broad base; but those of the Grey Skate are not near so long, 

 and more closely connected. The sexes of both species are 

 discriminated by the formidable reclined hooked spines on 

 the pectorals, as well as by the posterior appendages which 

 are peculiar to the males. r> It is recorded by Dr Neill in the 

 1st vol. of the Wernerian Memoirs, that this species of ray 

 is occasionally met with in the Firth of Forth ; and I am 

 informed by the fishermen that specimens of large size are 

 frequently taken off the coast of Aberdeen ; but as no ex- 

 ample has hitherto fallen under my own immediate notice, 



* In those specimens I have examined, these points were always directed 

 outwards, not forwards. 



