618 SKATES' EGGS AND YOUNG. 
queer shaped things which he found on the beach were in 
fact little pockets, or sacks opened at one end, not knowing 
what else they could be, concluded that in some way they 
must be connected with the “maids of the ocean ;" and what 
more natural than to suppose them to. be the purses to. hold 
the pearls and other valuables of the Nouerion maids? and 
what better name than " Mermaid purses" could be desired? 
From this first christening, and following the common rule 
adopted for such cases — that. of keeping as far away as pos- 
sible from the real nature of the object—they have been 
called, and are generally known as “sea purses” and “sailor’s 
purses." The only popular name bearing on their real origin 
is that given to them on some portions of the English coast, 
where they are called “skate barrows,” from their resem- 
blance in form to a hand-barrow, and the knowledge of the 
christener that they were produced by the skates. 
As common as these egg cases are on our beaches, it is 
very seldom, and only at certain seasons, that they are found 
containing the egg or embryo. When fresh and filled by the 
embryo they are plump and swollen and of a much lighter 
olive color than when empty, dry and shrivelled. As long 
as the embryo is in the case no opening to the pouch can be 
detected, until just at the time when the young skate is to 
make his way into the world and commence his struggle for 
existene^, consisting principally in keeping himself from 
going into the ever ready mouths of his own kin of fin, to 
whom he forms a tempting morsel. Just as incubation 
comes to a close, then, the substance at one end of the case 
softens and the upper and under layers are pushed apart by 
the young skate who "noses" his way out; the two layers 
then spring back into place and the case on drying shows no 
sign of an opening, unless it is again softened and the inpet 
carefully separated. 
e. do not yet know the breeding season v our species, 
i EOS Pennant in his " British Zoslogy," states that the "skates. 
| d in March and April, at which time they swim near 
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