53 



CRAMP RAY. Rata Torpedo. Jenyn?, p 509. Yarrell's 

 Br. F., vol. 2, p. 410. Rare. 



SKATE. R. Batis. Jenyns, p. 510. Yarrell's Br. P., vol. 

 2, p. 421. Common. The smaller are used for food, either 

 fresh or salted, in fishermen's families in the winter; and 

 the larger specimens are chiefly employed as bait for Crabs 

 and Lobsters ; the former being attracted by the fresh bait, 

 the latter by that which has hung in tbe air for a season. 



LONGNOSED SKATE. R. Chagrinea. Yarrell's Br. P., 

 vol. 2, p. 414. Less common than the last species. 



SHARPNOSED RAY. R. Oxyrhynchus. Jenyns, p. 511. 

 Yarrell's Br. F., vol. 2, p. 424. Burton Skate. Common 

 in deep water. 



SPOTTED RAY. R. Maculatu. Jenyns, p. 514. Yar- 

 rell's Br. F., vol. 2, p. 429. Common, llomlyn, and 

 sometimes the Sandy Ray, from being confounded with a 

 species not until lately recognized as British, but decidedly 

 distinct, R.Circularis C. This is the Species, of which the 

 purses are often thrown on shore in winter, after a storm. 

 I have known a specimen not exceeding four inches across 

 the disk, to swallow an hook and be taken. 



PAINTED RAY. R. Microcellata. Jenyns, p. 515. Yar- 

 rell's Br. F., vol. 2, p. 433. Rare. 



THORNBACK. R. Clavata. Jenvns, p. 516. Yarrell's 

 Br. F., vol. 2, p. 436. The Ray. Common. The best of 

 the genus for food, and the most commonly used, fresh or 

 salted ; in the latter condition a principal subsistence for 

 the fishermen's families in winter. 



This species is sometimes seen with the under surface 

 rough, in which case it is the Rough Ray (R. Rubus) of 

 authors; and it may be well here to remark, that the presence 

 or absence of spines, in all this Genus, is a very uncertain 

 characteristic of species or sex ; and I have seen a full grown 

 Skate, with scarcely the mark of spine on the body or tail. 



STING RAY. R. Pastinaca. Jenyns, p. 518. Yarrell's 

 Br. F., vol. 2, p. 442. Scarce. 



EAGLE RAY. R. Aquila. Yarrell's Br. F., vol. 2, p. 

 445. I have been informed of one specimen. 



BLACK RAY. R. Chardon,— mentioned by Mr. Yarrell, 

 Br. F., vol. 2, p. 425. 



SANDY RAY. R.Circularis. Loudon's Magazine of Na- 

 tural History, vol. 2, N.S. 1838. It is common, but not 

 esteemed as food. 



LAMPREYS. 



SEA LAMPREY. Petromijzon Marians. Jenyns, p. 520. 

 Yarrell's Br. F., vol. 2, p. 448. Common, but rarely used 

 as food. 



H 



