THE SHAGREEN RAY. 433 



we compare two specimens, one of Raia batis and the other 

 of Raia chagrinea of Montagu, each of three feet in length, 

 we shall find, that, Raia batis measures, from the tip of the 

 snout to the eye, seven inches ; whereas, in the Raia cha- 

 grinea of Montagu, the distance between these points mea- 

 sures but five inches, presenting a very striking difference 

 when the two fish are placed together. 



The principal characters which distinguish the Raia cha- 

 grinea from the rest of the skates, are in the dorsal surface 

 of the tail having only two rows of spines, and none on the 

 central ridge ; these rows commence at the first dorsal fin, 

 and extend nearly as far as half-way up the back of the fish, 

 where the spines become very small, and not half the size 

 of those on the lower portion of the tail. 



This is a rare species of Skate, few naturalists appearing 

 to have met with it. Colonel Montagu has noticed it on 

 the Devonshire coast, and Pennant obtained a specimen from 

 Scarborough ; but whether it is found to inhabit the Cornish 

 coast does not appear to have been altogether accurately 

 determined, since the fish figured and described by Mr 

 Yarrell under the name of Raia chagrinea, may probably 

 prove a new species. 



In the Firth of Forth the Shagreen Ray is occasionally 

 taken in skate-nets set in deep water, more especially in the 

 months of May and June, when a few may be seen in the 

 Edinburgh market along with grey skate and thornbacks. 

 It is known to fishermen under the name of Rough Flap- 

 per, and its flesh is considered inferior as food to that of the 

 other species of skate, it being soft and dry. It feeds on 

 small star-fish and crustaceous animals in general. 



vol. vii. e e 



