52 



sembling tlie Blue Shark, instead of the Toper, which has a 

 flatness or depression at that part. The temporal orifice is 

 small and on a level with the surface. The snout is thicker 

 than in the Toper, and being less flattened has the appearance 

 of being shorter; the nostrils in a rather deep depression. 

 The roots of the teeth expand, and are notched on both sides. 

 Pectoral fins longer than in the Toper ; and the superior 

 stoutness of the body is remarkable from the abdominal fins, 

 to the tail; from the second dorsal to which latter organ, 

 where along the surface the Toper is convex, in this Species 

 there is a longitudinal excavation, as is described in the White 

 Shark (Sq. Carcharias) with which Fish I have no doubt this 

 has been confounded. With the exceptions mentioned all the 

 fins resemble those of the Toper. The colour was dark 

 brown above, somewhat reddish at the sides, and light below. 

 It was caught June 24, 1834. 



All the smaller Sharks are used as food, fresh or salted ; 

 and the smaller Spotted Dogfish is sometimes boiled to form 

 Morgay Soup, in the west parts of Cornwall. 

 ANGELFISH. Squat in a Angelas. Jenyns, p. 507. Yar- 



rell's Br. F., vol. 2, p. 407. Monkfish. Common. 

 LEWIS. Sq. Leicis. Transactions of Liu. Soc, vol. 14, 



p. 90. 



THE RAY TRIBE. 



This family of fishes has two English generically descrip- 

 tive names, both of which appear to be derived from Saxon 

 roots. Ray is from reoh, which signifies rough, and is indeed, 

 the ancient form of that word. When appropriated to a par- 

 ticular species it is the name of the Raia Clavata, and may 

 be considered as equivalent to its other designation, Thorn- 

 back. 



The term Skate has been derived from the word Squatina, 

 though that is known to have belonged to a different Species, 

 tlu Monk or Angel fish. A more probable derivation is from 

 the Anglo Saxon Skitan, to throw out or reject ; for this is 

 one, and the largest, of the fishes which fishermen in gene- 

 ral do not think of conveying to market; and which on that 

 account are denominated Rabble Fishes : others of the samo 

 degrading appellation being several species of Dog Fishes, 

 Rays, Grey Gurnards, Scads, Combers (Serrani,) Powers, and 

 most of the Wrasses ; which are considered as the peculiar 

 property of the fishermen, and are not shared by his em- 

 ployer. The word Skit is the popular denomination of a lam- 

 poon or sarcasm thrown out at random, and circulated without 

 a name of the author ; a Scout is one placed at a distance as 

 a watch, and to scout is to drive away or reject. 



