LIST OF FISHES 



The front being somewhat round, and the eyes 

 placed pretty near to each other a lively ima- 

 gination, especially if influenced by fear, might 

 easily trace some resemblance to a plump human 

 face. 



Raia. 



R. Bails. Skate or Flaire. 



This is pretty common. By the fish- dealers 

 here it is often called Blue-skate, Grey-skate, 

 or Dinnen-skate, to distinguish it from the Thorn- 

 back, which is more plentiful in the Frith, and is 

 also accounted a skate. It is easily known from 

 the other common rays, by the middle of the back 

 being destitute of spines. The male has not only 

 his pectoral fins studded with spines, but he pos- 

 sesses long sharp-edged appendages on the lower 

 part of his body, with which he lays hold of the 

 female ; the fishers call these appendages skate- 

 sheers, from their resemblance to the blades of a 

 pair of scissars. Qn large specimens, I have often 

 found the Hirudo muricata, fixed on the belly, 

 and leaving a bloody inflamed mark at the spot 

 from whence I detached it. In the females, two 

 horny capsules, containing each a young skate, 

 may often be found nearly ready for exclusion \ 

 and, at the same time, two others not so far ad- 

 vanced, and a multitude of rudiments of capsules, 

 in a soft state. Qn opening a capsule nearly ripe ? 

 I have more than once found the young skate sur,? 



