io8 SALT-WATER FISHES 



The Shagreen Ray (i?. fullonicd) is a rough-skinned 

 species with, as a rule, no spots on its brownish-yellow back. 

 Below, it is normally pure white. The tubercles are in 

 two rows along the sides of the tail ; also at the extremities 

 of the wings and near the end of the snout. The dorsal 

 fins are small, and lie near the end of the tail. It is a rather 

 deep-water ray, and has been caught measuring 3 ft. on the 

 Devon coast. 



The Long-nosed Skate (R. oxyrhynchus) has the upper 

 surface of the disc almost smooth ; but the under surface is 

 rough, except on the claspers, and is of a pale grey, with small 

 black dots. This is a large and somewhat active skate. One 

 trawled during the 1891 Irish survey measured 53 in. in length 

 and weighed 32 lb., and a second measured 63 in. 



The Painted, or Owl, Ray {R. microcellatd) has rough 

 tubercles both above and below, but their distribution is 

 subject to great variation. In colour, also with variations, 

 it is brown above, with purple spots and lines on the 

 edges, and there are pale blotches on the abdomen, which 

 is otherwise white. It was not known to occur in Irish 

 waters previous to 1 891, and may be regarded as an inshore 

 fish there, as fourteen examples were taken, all in water from 

 5 to 19 fathoms. 



The Sandy, or Cuckoo, Ray {R. circularise was divided 

 by Couch in two species, he having been misled into regarding 

 as a constant character the black and yellow spot on the wings 

 found in some individuals, but not in all. The egg-purse 

 of this species has extremely long tendrils. 



The Sharp-nosed Ray {R. alba), the " Bottle-nosed Ray " 

 of Devon fishermen, is the largest species in our seas, examples 

 having been taken of 7 or 8 ft. in length and 500 lb. in 

 weight. It has rows of tubercles on the tail and " wings," 

 also behind the eyes, and on the edge of the lower surface. 

 This is the owner of the large " purse," which Couch attri- 

 buted to Myliobatis. 



