460 



THE ZOOLOGIST. 



in a trawl-net off that port. A freshly captured specimen, 

 " barely dead," was brought me by a Lowestoft fish-vendor on 

 February 9th, 1907. I understand that on February 18th, 

 1895, Mr. Howard Bunn received an example for preservation in 

 the same town. 



Skate (Raia batis). — Common off the Eastern coast. 



Long-nosed Skate {R. oxyrhynchus). — Said by Wake to have 

 been taken off South wold, which to me is curious, as I have 

 never yet satisfactorily discovered it for East Norfolk. 



Burton Skate (R. marginata). — I had a small example of 

 this species brought me fresh from Lowestoft on May 9th, 1909. 

 The under part was white, with the black margin (as figured in 

 Couch, vol. i. p. 110) that has gained for it the name of Bordered 

 Kay, now, however, satisfactorily described as the young of the 

 present species. The upper surface was drab-coloured and as 

 smooth as glass, with no spiny processes except one against 

 each eye. It was roughly spined under the snout, and had three 

 rows of spiny processes on the tail. I forwarded it to the late 

 Mr. Southwell, who was delighted to receive it. 



Thornback Eay (R. clavata). — Known in the trade, and 

 locally, as " Roker." Great quantities brought from the North 

 Sea to the fish-market by trawlers. Numerous all along the 

 coasts ; I saw examples landed by the Southwold and Lowestoft 

 boats. A white variety taken off Lowestoft in October, 1905, 

 3 lb. in weight. Aldeburgh. 



Spotted Ray (R. maculata), — Locally known as " Homer," 

 or Homlyn Skate. Common all along the Eastern coast. 

 Very small examples in boats at Lowestoft, August, 1909 ; the 

 fishermen termed them " Maids." 



Starry Ray (R. radiata). — Of this formidably spined fish, 

 an example the size of a dinner-plate was brought me from 

 Lowestoft on February 20th, 1907. My first record was an 

 example taken off Norfolk, May 14th, 1897. In each instance, 

 the taxidermist assured me the skinning and preserving of them 

 punished his fingers severely. 



Sting Ray (Trygon jiastinaca). — Has on two or three occa- 

 sions lately turned up on the Suffolk coast. One was caught by 

 a lady fishing from Claremont Pier, Lowestoft, in the June of 

 1909 [date lost] . It weighed 35 lb. Her basket contained, for 



