RAY CATCHING. 373

about eight inches in diameter, and quite empty. It was
closely studded over with circular spots of a muscular sub-
stance. Under the stomach was a long bag, with transverse
muscular layers from end to end, and which contained noth-
ing but some slime and gravel. This muscular appearance of
the digestive organs would lead one to suppose that it fed upon
other fish, as is the general opinion here, though its having no

_teeth does not support that idea. Its weight was so great that
it was impossible to ascertain it at the time ; but some idea
may be formed of it when I assure you that it was with diffi-
culty that forty men, with two lines attached to it, could drag
it along the ground. Its bones were soft, and, with the ex-
ception of the jaw-bones, could be cut with a knife. One
ridge of bone ran from the mouth to the middle of the back,
where it was met by another running transversely, from the ex-
tremities of which there were two larger ones converging towards
the tail.”’