554 



LIST OF FISHES 



times, however, distinguished by the name of Dirt- 

 nies. 



R. Cuvieri. Cuvier's Ray, 



A single specimen of this rare fish was taken in 

 the trawl-nets which were for some time employ- 

 ed in fishing for sole and turbot in the Frith of 

 Forth, in summer 1808 ; and it therefore falls to be 

 added to the British Fauna. This species was first 

 found on the coast of France in 1792, described 

 by La Cepede, and by him named in honour of 

 Cuvier, the celebrated comparative anatomist at 

 Paris. It is strikingly distinguished by having an 

 upright oval- shaped dorsal fin in the middle of 

 the back. The specimen having been kept for 

 me some days, by Mr Prior, fishmonger, who 

 observed it among a large cargo of thornbacks 

 and rough-rays ; before I saw it, it was in a 

 putrescent state, and the traces of the dark spots 

 on the back were merely visible. When laid 

 flat on a table, with the pectoral fins spread out, 

 the fish was of a rhomboidal or diamond shape. 

 It was nearly twelve inches broad, and a little 

 more in length. 



[I understand that the White-horse, Raia ful- 

 lonica, has been seen in the market j but I have 

 never met with it.] 



