1126 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
The length of the head to the occiput, is about 
28 — 30 % (according to Lilljeborg sometimes 1 j 3 ) of 
the length of the body. The longitudinal diameter of 
the eyes measures about 7 io' — V12 °f the length of the 
snout. The spiracles, the diameter of which is as usual 
variable, are of about the same size as the eyes. The 
internasal width is about 40 — 45 % of the distance be- 
tween either nostril and the tip of the snout, which 
distance measures about 90 % of the length of the snout. 
The breadth of the- mouth, even in old specimens, is 
perceptibly less than the internasal width. The denti- 
tion almost exactly resembles that of the common Skate. 
The only difference that might be adduced is that, on 
comparing specimens of equal size, the teeth of the 
Long-nosed Skate prove to be somewhat smaller, and 
the retral cusp ascends in a more conical form. The 
rows of teeth are nearly the same in number as those 
of the common Skate. The divergencies to be observed 
in this respect are most naturally regarded as the re- 
sults of individual circumstances. 
In middle-aged and large specimens the whole skin, 
both of the dorsal side and the ventral, is densely and 
almost uniformly covered with spinulm of almost equal 
size, which have a stel lately expanded base, fairly dis- 
tinct to the naked eye, and consisting of 3 — 5 prostrate 
rays, each of a length nearly equal to the height of 
the spine. In the females no smooth gaps are left, 
except the circumanal region and the under side of the 
ventral fins and tail, which surface is partly naked. The 
rest of the skin is uniformly roughened throughout, 
even to the hind margins of the pectoral fins. In the 
males the smooth patches are rather more extensive. 
Around the eyes the spinulaa are somewhat coarser, 
and in jmung specimens, according to Doderlein, a 
well-developed aculeus is set at the preorbital margin. 
The only other aculei possessed by this species 
consist of a row on each lateral margin of the tail. 
They are comparatively small, but of unequal size, 
pointed and compressed, with the base prolongated and 
as it were lobed. Their arrangement is not symmetrical, 
and their tips are directed indiscriminately forwards or 
backwards. 
The coloration of the dorsal side is brownish gray 
or reddish brown, with sparse, light brown or even 
milk-white spots, scattered in curved rows or irregu- 
larly. The anterior side-margins and the spine-cards 
of the males are light gray. The under surface is 
coloured and marked as in the common Skate, but 
seems in general to be lighter. 
The Scandinavian distribution of the Long-nosed 
Skate is probably the same as that of the common 
Skate, only that the former does not enter the Cattegat 
proper, though it no doubt approaches the Swedish coast 
in the Skager Rack. On the 14th of November, 1889, 
Mr. C. A. Hansson secured in Koster Fjord, off Helsft, 
the male figured in our plate. The northern limit of 
the species apparently lies near Trondhjem, the southern 
limit off Madeira. The Long-nosed Skate is besides a 
rather common fish in the Mediterranean. Its bathy- 
metric range appears to extend in Scandinavia between 
depths of about 70 and 150 fathoms. 
In its manner of life the Long-nosed Skate re- 
sembles the common Skate. The same fishes are found 
in the stomach of both, and off our coasts they are 
taken on the same tackle (long-lines) and in company. 
With regard to the deposition of the ova Grieg noted" 
that a female 129 cm. long, which was caught on the 
18th of May, 11 miles west of Bergen, laid a fully 
ripe egg when drawn ' into the boat. 
In Bohusl&n the Long-nosed Skate is well known 
among the deep-sea fishermen and to the fish-dealers. 
It is there called, according to Malm, varndbb (Big 
Beak). It is taken less frequently by the Swedish 
fishermen than the common Skate; but according to 
Storm, Jensen, and Grieg it is common in Trondhjem 
Fjord and off Bergen. 
As a food-fish it is considered inferior to the com- 
mon Skate. (Fries, Smitt.) 
Bergens Museums Aarbog 1892, p. XVIII. 
