PLATE XXVI. 
Raja ordme aculeorum unguiformium unico in dorso caudaquc. 
Bloch. Deutschl. 3. 58, 
Raja clavata. Bay, Will. &(c. 
Thornback. Penn. Brit.Zool. 3. p. 69. n. 5, 
Tins common fish, according to Mr. Pennant, is easily distin, 
guished from the other species of Ray, by the rows of strong sharp 
spines, disposed along the back and tail. The number of those rows 
are far from constant, and almost every author speak of them dif- 
ferently. In one of a large growth Mr. Pennant found three rows 
on the back and five on the tail : some mention but three rows on 
the latter; and others only one. The characters which Artedi , 
and after him Linnaeus, have assigned this species, are not free from 
objection, for as M. Bloch very justly observes they are certainly too 
general; all the rays having the cartilage across the belly, and many 
the blunt or tuberculated teeth as in this species. 
In respect of colour, it is well known this fish is apt to vary a 
little. Klein speaks of them having the upper surface marked with 
round whitish spots, and such as are brought to the London markets 
answer to this description : Mr. Pennant considers these whitish spots 
as a character of the young fish, but we have observed them more or 
less distinct on the largest as well as the smallest specimens that have 
occurred to our notice ; and some of these have weighed twenty or 
thirty pounds each, if not more. 
Like the Skate, the young of this kind are called Maids, and are 
of a better flavour than the old ones. Among naturalists it is gene- 
