464 PEOSE HALIETJTICS. 



a half wide. We have heard of one taken at Torbay, 

 measuring four feet by two and a half, and weighing 

 fifty-three pounds. 



The skate itself enjoys the reputation of being a greedy 

 fish ; but not, as it would appear, deservedly, since Dr. 

 Davy confined some for five months, during the whole of 

 which time they ate nothing, yet continued to grow, 

 notwithstanding this abstinence, and maintained their 

 electric powers unimpaired. 



In taking leave of skate, we may acquaint the unin- 

 formed, that those little square, tough, leathery pouches, 

 with long tendrils, of polished interior, which are strewed 

 so plentifully about our shores, are the eggs of the ray 

 batis, or skate proper. One finds occasionally, on break- 

 ing them open, the little unborn, but perfect skate, spread 

 out at fuU width, and preparing to make his egress. 

 They were well known to Aristotle, who has described 

 them perfectly. 



Sturgeon. 



Qui voluptates ipsas contemmmt, eis licet dicere, se acipenae- 

 rem msense non anteponere. — Cic, De Fin., (oitante Nonio.) 



Who has not leamt, fresh sturgeon and ham-pie 

 Are no rewards for want and infamy ? — Pope. 



The etymologies of fish-names, real, plausible, absurd, 

 or simply fictitious, would furnish an amusing article for 

 a magazine, and we perhaps may some day attempt one. 

 Few other, and no estuary fish, ever attained so many 

 as the sturgeon. This word is by many supposed to 

 come from the Gothic monosyllabic stur, its ancient 

 appellation ; first Latinized into sturio ; Itahce, sturione ; 

 and thence GaUice esturgeon; and in English sturgeon. 



Jovius however, not satisfied with this etymology, de- 

 rives it from Ister, the Danube having been long famous 



