RAY CATCHING. 373 



about eight inches in diameter, and quite empty. It was 

 closely studded over with circular spots of a muscular sub- 

 stance. Under the stomach was a long bag, with transverse 

 muscular layers from end to end, and which contained noth- 

 ing but some slime and gravel. This muscular appearance of 

 the digestive organs would lead one to suppose that it fed upon 

 other fish, as is the general opinion here, though its having no 

 teeth does not support that idea. Its weight was so great that 

 it was impossible to ascertain it at the time ; but some idea 

 may be formed of it when I assure you that it was with diffi- 

 /culty that forty men, with two lines attached to it, could drag 

 it along the ground. Its bones were soft, and, with the ex- 

 ception of the jaw-bones, could be cut with a knife. One 

 ridge of bone ran from the mouth to the middle of the back, 

 where it was met by another running transversely, from the ex- 

 tremities of which there were two larger ones converging towards 

 the tail." 



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