430 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



and below perfectly smooth ; a strong, sharp, bent spine in front of 

 each orbit; no spines or tubercles of any description on the back. 

 Mouth large, placed beneath ; teeth small, not so large or so sharp 

 as those in Raia batis. 



This fish, which was obtained in the Firth of Forth in 

 the month of May, seems to be a new species of Skate, since 

 I am not aware of its having been previously described. 

 It appears to be the connecting link between Raia batis 

 and Raia oxyrhynchus, to both of which it is closely allied, 

 and it is from this circumstance that I suggest the specific 

 name of intermedia. 



It is distinguished from Raia batis, in the upper surface 

 of the body being perfectly smooth, without granulations, 

 and of a dark olive colour spotted with white ; in the ante- 

 rior part of each orbit being furnished with a strong spine 

 pointing towards the tail ; in the dorsal fins being more 

 remote from each other, and in the anterior margins of 

 the pectorals rather more concave, giving the snout a 

 sharper appearance ; whereas, in Raia batis, the upper sur- 

 face of the body is rough to the touch, of a uniform dusky 

 grey without spots ; the orbits without spines ; the dorsals 

 nearly approximate, and the anterior margins of the pecto- 

 rals nearly straight. 



It is likewise removed from Raia oxyrhynchus, in the 

 snout being conic ; the under surface of the body dark grey ; 

 a spine in front of each orbit, and the back of a dark olive- 

 green spotted with white ; whereas, in the Raia oxyrhyn- 

 chus, the snout is sharp and long, with the lateral margins 

 parallel near the tip ; the under surface of the body pure 

 white, and the back of a plain brown without spots. 



I have met with two examples of a variety of this fish 

 which were taken in the salmon-nets at Queensferry. They 

 were both of small size, about eighteen inches in length. 



