Clafs IV. Bi Ave 48, 63 
The tail is of a moderate length: near the end are 
two fins: along the top of it is one row of fpines, 
and on the edges are irregularly difperfed a few 
others, which makes us imagine with Mr. Kay, that 
in this refpect thefe fifh vary, fome having one, others 
more orders of {pines on the tail. 
It is remarked that in the males of this {pecies 
the fins are full of fpines. 
Skates generate in March and April, at which 
time they fwim near the furface of the water, feve- 
ral of the males purfuing onefemale. They adhere 
fo faft together in coition, that the fifhermen fre- 
quently draw up both together, tho’ only one has 
taken the bait. The females begin to caft their 
_purfes, as the fifhermen call them (the bags in which 
the young are included) in May, and continue doing 
it till September. In OJfober they are exceedingly 
poor and thins; but in November they begin to im- 
prove, and grow eradually better till May, when 
they are in the higheft perfection. The males go 
faoner out of feafon than the females, 7 
iT. The 
Generae 
tion, 
