Skate's Egg

"The Skate's egg is much the same, only there is no tendril, but a curved hook at each corner. These hooks, of course, serve as anchors to hold the egg: no doubt they catch in weeds and stones. One fish, you see, ties her eggs with strings, the other uses anchors. These large "purse eggs" are like cradles, and the baby Skates do not slip out of them until they are quite ready to look after themselves in the ocean." - Within the Deep by R. Cadwallader Smith, Book VIII. Are these not beautiful? Like a little spaceship for fishes. Everytime one goes by me, split, leathery, growing mosses, I think of the beauteous skates that are born and glide over the bottoms like pale and lovely shadows. Have you seen one of these on the beach?