280 GADID.E. 



the nostrils are before and within the eyes. The eyes small, 

 and placed near the nose. The colour of the upper part of 

 the head, back, and sides, uniform dark brown ; lower part of 

 the sides lighter brown ; under surface of the lower jaw, the 

 ventral fins, and the belly to the vent, white ; the other fins 

 dusky brown : the course of the lateral line distinctly marked 

 by a series of short, slender white streaks, as shown in the 

 wood engraving. 



I have been favoured by Dr. Richardson with the follow- 

 ing description of the appearance of a fine example of this 

 species : General colour of the body pale bronze, approach- 

 ing to that of jeweller's gold, with streaks of purer gold co- 

 lour above the lateral line in the direction of the ribs. The 

 upper parts of the head and the gill-covers yellowish brown, 

 blended on the cheeks with the bronze. The fins are also of 

 a brownish orange or bronze colour, but without the metallic 

 lustre, and their margins are blood red ; the red tinge is more 

 general on the pectorals ; the irides silvery, the pupils bluish 

 black. 



The three species last described have been called mustela 

 by different authors. Linnaeus attached this term to the 

 species with five barbules : Cuvier, in the Regnc Animal, 

 identifies the Three-Bearded Rockling with this same word. 

 As the number of barbules appear to be constant in each, a 

 reference to the number in the specific name is, perhaps, the 

 least objectionable. Linnaeus, and other authors to the 

 present time, continue, as before stated, to consider the 

 northern species with four barbules as distinct from both, and 

 there is no doubt that they are all three good species. 



