ROCKLINGS 3T. MAEY's TROUT. 203 



brane behind the head and before the dorsal fin ; it has 

 nothing in common with the fins; but when the fish is 



THREE-BEARDED ROCKLiNG {Mustsla vulgaris, Motclla vulgaris). 



lying perfectly still, and all the fins are at rest, it is 

 often in rapid motion. The barbules on the upper jaw 

 are always extended in front." 



In August, 18G7, a specimen was taken off Folkestone 

 in thirty fathoms of water, which is said to be a very 

 great depth for this fish. It measured eighteen inches. 

 It is called a " goss " by the Folkestone fishermen. The 

 specimen is in my museum. Another example was sent 

 me from Penrhyn, Bangor, in December of the same 

 year. The local name there is " the St. Mary's trout." 

 Yarrell mentions 19in. as the length of the largest he 

 ever saw. Strange to say, this specimen measured 

 19in. I cannot understand why it should be called 

 " St. Mary's trout," except that the 8th of December 

 is the Feast of the Conception, and the monks of old 

 living near the sea generally had a " fishing weir," and 

 '' fixed engines " without end to supply fish for the fast 

 days. Possibly these fish came from the deep sea 

 about December 8th, and were hence called '' St Marv's 

 trout " by the monks of Bangor Cathedral, founded a.d. 

 525. 



The Five-bearded Rockling (Gadus miistela, Motella 

 mustela) is much more common than the preceding one, 

 and is met with on most parts of the British coasts. 



