PLATE CIII. 
*non Skate. Our suspicions of its not being a genuine species were 
first excited by perceiving among a number of the Skate of various 
sizes, several of the smaller ones marked exactly in the same manner. 
They were evidently Skate from their general figure, from the larger 
spines on the tail being disposed down the middle in a single 
series, and the uniform blackness of the lower surface, the dingy 
aspect of which is assumed from the innumerable small black specks 
with which the skin in that part is dotted. A large Skate afterwards 
occurred, in which the same annular mark was very observable ; and 
from that time for some years past becoming more attentive to this 
circumstance, we have perceived it in the Skate more or less con- 
spicuous in every stage of growth. This we believe has not been 
hitherto mentioned by writers ; the fact is, however, cei tain, and cieai ly 
proves that those ocellated spots are not peculiar to Raja Miraletus, 
and consequently insufficient to prove it a species. In every other re- 
spect, as before observed, it agrees with the Homerling, and upon 
the whole may prove, as already suggested, to be only a variety of 
that species. It is certainly a very remarkable and curious fish, 
whether it be a variety, or a species, and highly worthy of a place in 
the present work. 
