110 PLATYSOMI. 



ing a dirty crust of mucus and mud — and a long 

 tail : it may always be known to those who seek 

 it for cabinets. 



THE SKATE. 



It has five branchial openings on each side, 

 partly concealed by being underneath ; two 

 dorsal fins near the root of the tail; small teeth, 

 of a conical form, with broad bases. Males may 

 be known from the females by crooked or hooked 

 spines on the pectoral fins. The ova are brown, 

 cariaceous, and square, having four long arms, 

 giving the egg-shell, which washes upon the 

 beach, the appearance of a hand-barrow. 



Let it be remembered, that the skate is a broad, 

 thin, flat fish, terrific and disgusting to look upon, 

 — possessing the voracity of the shark, with 

 out its rapidity. Their home is at the bottom, 

 from which, with singularly constructed optics, 



