115 
SANDY KAY. 
OWL. 
Haia circularii, 
m 
St 
Loudon; Magazine of Natural History, new series, 
vol. ii. 
Couch; Cornisli Fauna, p. 53. 
I CAN scarcely refer to Mr. Yarrell’s figure for this species, 
as it bears some characters which I am not able to identify. 
The Sandy Eay is a common species, at least in the west of 
England, but it is more rarely caught in the winter, perhaps 
because fishermen do not go at that season to the places it 
fre(^uents, which are in deep water at a considerable distance 
from land. It is probable also that it changes its quarters 
according to the season, for the earliest I have known in the 
spring have been found at twelve leagues from land. It is 
disregarded as food, for which the reason assigned is, that it 
does not readily receive the salt for preservation. 
The example selected for description measured three feet 
eight inches in length, of which the tail was nineteen inches; 
in breadth two feet four inches and a half; projection of the 
snout three fourths of an inch. The mouth distant from the 
snout six inches, three inches and a half wide; under jaw 
peaked in the middle; the teeth slender, sharp, in rows not 
closely placed; nostrils lobed. Anterior margin of the disk 
slightly waved, and assuming a circular form, especially rounded 
off at its greatest breadth, which is at about the miudle of 
the disk. From the snout the ridge is elevated to the eyes, 
a distance of five inches and a quarter; the eyes two inches 
apart; spiracles large. The body is thickest posteriorly; tail 
stout at its origin, rounded above, and tapering; a groove 
along the body and tail; two fins on the latter, close together. 
