Ill 



FOUR-BEARDED ROCKLING. 



Gadus cimhrius, Turtox's LinnEeus. 



Gade cimhre, Lacepede. 



Motella cimhria, TARr.ELL; Br. F., vol. ii, p. 274. 



" " Gu>'TiiER; Cat. Br. Museum, vol. iv, p. 367. 



Tins is particularly a northern species, but although met 

 with on the coasts of Norway and Sweden it remained unknown 

 to Linnajus, at least to so late a date as the publication of the 

 tenth edition of his System. It was first recognised as British 

 by Dr. Parnell; but although in some places it is not uncommon, 

 its distribution, even in the north of our islands, appears to 

 be limited to certain districts; which circumstance may be caused 

 chiefly by a congenial nature in the ground; but the reason of 

 its remaining little knoAvn in some fishing stations while it is 

 common in others, may arise from a difference in the method 

 of fishing ; for as its favoured residence is in waters of considerable 

 depth, it can be taken only where long lines or bulteys are 

 employed, the hooks of which, although generally large, it is 

 able to swallow. On inquiry it has been found that there are 

 stations in Scotland where this fish is unknown; but on the 

 other hand, it is set down by Mr. Cocks as among the rarer 

 fishes which he has seen so far to the south and west as Falmouth. 

 In its proper haunts it keeps near the ground, where it feeds 

 on siich crustaceous animals and worms as are there common; 

 but it is probable that like the others of its family, its appetite 

 is exercised without much discrimination. 



A close description of the Four-bearded Eockling seems 

 unnecessary, as in shape it bears a near resemblance to the 

 three and five-bearded species, while it is the only one of this 

 family we are acquainted with that is furnished with three barbs 

 on the upper lip, and one of them as it stands alone projects 



