TION, 



Class IV. SHARP-NOSED RAY. 2^ 



a few others, which makes *us imagine with Mr, 

 Ray, that in this refped thefe filh vary, fome ha- 

 ving one, others more orders of fpines on the tail. 



It is remarked that ia the males of this fpecies the 

 fins are full of fpines. 



Skates generate in March and Aprils at which Geneva- 

 time they fwim near the furface of the water, feve- 

 ral of the males purfuing one female. They ad- 

 here fo fafl together in coition, that the fifhermea 

 frequently draw up both together, though only one 

 has taken the bait. The females begin to cafi: their 

 purfes, as the filhermen call them (the bags in which 

 the young are included) in May, and continue 

 doing it till September. In 05foher they are ex- 

 ceedingly poor and thin ; but in November they be= 

 gin to improve, and grow gradually better till May^ 

 when they are in the higheft perfedion. The males 

 go fooner out of feafon than the female*. 



NOSE&, 



B8$? Arift.hift. an. Lib.Y, Wil lah. 71. Raii/yn.pifc. ^j^ Shar?^ 



r. 5. Oppian Halieut. II. 26. 



141. Raiaoxyrinchus.Z/«,_;/Jy?. 395, 



Bos O'vidii P 94. Pliniii Lib, Raia varia tuberculis decern 



IX. c. 24. acaleatis in medio dorfo* 



Raia oxyrhincus. ^c-^^^/. 347, Arted, Jynon, loi. 



Gefner pifc. 792. 



IN filhing in the Menai (the (Irait that divides 

 Anglefea from Caernarvonjhire) July 1768, we 

 G 2 took 



