52 
sembling the Blue Shark, instead of the Toper, which has a 
flatness or depression at that part. The temporal orifice is 
small and on a level with t lie surface. The snout is thicker 
than in the Toper, and lining less flattened has the appearance 
of being shorter; the nostrils in a rather deep depression. 
The roots of the teeth expand, and are notched on both sides. 
Pectoral fins longer than in the Toper ; and the superior 
stoutness of the body is remarkable from the abdominal fins, 
to the tail; from the second dorsal to which latter organ, 
where along the surface the Toper is convex, in this Species 
there is a longitudinal excavation, as is described in the White 
Shark (Sq. Carcharias) with which Fish I have no doubt this 
has been confounded. With the exceptions mentioned all the 
fins resemble those of the Toper. The colour was dark 
brown above, somewhat reddish at the sides, and light below. 
It was caught June 24, 1834. 
All the smaller Sharks are used as food, fresh or salted ; 
and the smaller Spotted Dogfish is sometimes boiled to form 
Morgay Soup, in the west parts of Cornwall. 
ANGELFISH. Squat in a Angelas. Jenyns, p. 507. Yar- 
rell’s 13r. F., vol. 2, p. 407. Monkfish. Common. 
LEWIS. Sq. Lewis. Transactions of Lin. Soc., vol. 14, 
p. 90. 
THE RAY TRIBE. 
This family of fishes has two English generically descrip- 
tive names, both of which appear to be derived from Saxon 
roots. Ray is from reoh, which signifies rough, and is indeed, 
the ancient form of that word. When appropriated to a par- 
ticular species it is the name of the Raia Clavata, and may 
be considered as equivalent to its other designation, Thorn- 
back. 
The term Skate has been derived from the word Squatina, 
though that is known to have belonged to a different Species, 
the Monk or Angelfish. A more probable derivation is from 
the Anglo Saxon Skitan, to throw out or reject ; for this is 
one, and the largest, of the fishes which fishermen in gene- 
ral do not think of conveying to market; and which on that 
account are denominated Rabble Fishes : others of the same 
degrading appellation being several species of Dog Fishes, 
Rays, Grey Gurnards, Scads, Combers (Serrani,) Powers, and 
most of the Wrasses ; which arc considered as the peculiar 
property of the fishermen, and are not shared by his em- 
ployer." The word Skit is the popular denomination of a lam- 
poon or sarcasm thrown out at random, and circulated without 
a name of the author ; a Scout is one placed at a distance as 
a watch, and to scout is to drive away or reject. 
