J 48 DR PARNELL'S LIST OF 



Raia intermedia, Parnell, — Flapper Skate. (See Plate VI.) 



The species of Rays are but imperfectly understood ; for perhaps there is no 

 genus of fishes which has received so little attention from naturalists. 



From the great numbers of skate captured in the Frith of Forth during the 

 summer months, and from the great ease with which they can be examined in 

 the market-place, where scores of them are daily to be seen, ample opportunity 

 is afforded to the naturalist of judging for himself, and becoming acquainted with 

 those more common varieties, which have created so much confusion among 

 writers on Ichthyology. It is through the opportunities thus afforded me, that 

 I have been enabled to add another species to the British Fauna. 



This species of ray is not unft-equently met "with in the Frith of Forth, and 

 it belongs to the division of the sharp-nosed rays. 



Specific Characters. — Body on the upper surface perfectly smooth ; under 

 surface dark green. 



Description. — Length two feet. Body thin. Flesh hard. Snout sharp and 

 prominent, from the tip to the middle of the eye one-third the length of the body. 

 Tail rather short, being no longer than the space from the base of the anal fin, 

 to the anterior margin of the eye. Eyes rather smaU, with a sharp spine placed 

 in front of each. Tail with a row of spines placed on the mesial line only, not 

 extending farther up than to the base of the anal fin. Fu'st dorsal fin rather 

 remote from the second ; second dorsal fin placed near the rudimentary caudal 

 fin. Body perfectly smooth on both surfaces. Teeth small, not so sharp as those 

 in Raia batis. Colours : Body above dark olive-green, on the under surface 

 dark grey, with minute specks of a deeper colour. In one of the specimens, the 

 upper surface was mottled with large white spots, thickly placed on each pectoral 

 fin. 



This species of skate appears to be the connecting link between the Baia 

 batis and the Baia oxyrhynchus, to both of which it is closely allied : it is from 

 this circumstance, that I suggest the specific name intermedia. 



It is distinguished from the B. batis or grey skate, by the nose being longer, 

 by the first dorsal fin being more remote from the second ; and by the skin on 

 the back being perfectly smooth, which in the B. batis, is covered with small 

 spicula, and rough to the touch. 



It is at once removed from the B. oxyrhynchus of Montagu, by the under 

 surface of the body being of a dark gi-ey colour ; which part in the B. oxyrhynchus 

 is perfectly white. 



It has occurred to me, that it might be useful to add to this notice a List 

 of the Fishes of the Frith of Forth, and its tributary streams ; as no catalogue 

 of the fishes of this district of Scotland, has been dra^Mi up since that published 



