FISH NOTES 205 



condition, rubbed, and not a scale remaining." My 

 last record of the species is one found on the north 

 beach near Scratby in March 1893. 



FOUR-BEARDED ROCKLING 



Another rarity, the Four -bearded Rockling 

 (Motella dmbria\ fell into my hands by the merest 

 accident. Early on the morning of 23rd May 1889 

 I rambled beachwards before the sun had risen : the 

 sea margin was scarcely visible. On reaching the 

 beach I hesitated for a moment, and mentally " tossed 

 up," so to speak, Right angle or half a right angle ? 

 and at once directed my course at the latter angle, 

 reaching the water's edge obliquely. I stumbled on 

 a heap of seaweeds that had been left by the draw- 

 netters an hour or so before, and commenced raking 

 it over with my walking-stick, bringing to view a 

 ling-like fish, which I afterwards found to measure 

 8J inches long. As soon as I could see distinctly 

 I began a closer examination, and at once, by its 

 appearance and its unmistakable cirrhi, found it 

 to be a Four-bearded Rockling. Afterwards con- 

 sulting Couch, I found it was no stranger to 

 Norwegian waters, and had been discovered in 



