MOTELLA.] PISCES (OSSEI) MALACOPT. 449 



rather convex: greatest depth between one-fifth and one-sixth of the 

 entire length : head broad and depressed : snout short and rounded : jaws 

 equal ; each with a band of rasp-like teeth : beneath the chin a single 

 barbule, not one-third the length of the head : gape large : eyes round, 

 moderate : gill-opening large ; the membrane uniting with that on the 

 opposite side under the throat : head naked : scales on the body minute, 

 deeply imbedded, and invested with a slimy mucus : lateral line straight, 

 not very distinct : dorsals of equal height ; the first short, and slightly 

 rounded, commencing at one-third of the entire length ; the second long, 

 closely following the first, and carried on quite to the caudal, to the base 

 of which it is united ; height of the second dorsal uniform throughout, 

 only the first and last rays shorter than the others : vent a little before 

 the middle of the entire length, excluding caudal; anal immediately 

 behind it, carried on likewise very nearly to the caudal, but not ex- 

 tending quite so far as the second dorsal : caudal rounded : pectorals 

 rounded, shorter than the head: ventrals of about the same length, 

 narrow and pointed; the second ray much longer than the others: 

 number of fin-rays, 



D. 1371 ; A. 68; C. 48, including short ones ; P. 20 ; V. 7. 



(Colours.) Yellowish brown, blotched and stained with dark olivaceous 

 brown ; sometimes of a uniform dark olivaceous brown : head approaching 

 to dusky : belly yellowish white. 



The only species of this family inhabiting fresh water. Not uncommon 

 in Cambridgeshire, where it is called an Eel-Pout. Found also (accord- 

 ing to Pennant) in the Trent, in the river Witham, and in the great East 

 Fen in Lincolnshire; but not generally distributed over the country. 

 Frequents lakes and rivers. In England, seldom attains a greater 

 weight than three pounds, but on the Continent is said sometimes to 

 reach ten or twelve. Spawns (according to Bloch) in the months of 

 December and January. Feeds on other fish, worms, and aquatic 

 insects. Very tenacious of life: will live a long time out of water. 

 Flesh excellent eating. 



GEN. 50. MOTELLA, Cuv. 



135. M. tricirrata, Nilss. (Three-bearded Rock-Ling.) 

 Reddish yellow, spotted with black : two barbules on the 

 snout ; and one at the symphysis of the lower jaw. 



M. tricirrata, Nilss. Prod. Ichth. Scand. p. 48. Gadus tricirratus, 

 Bloch, Ichth. pi. 165. Don. Brit. Fish. vol. i. pi. 2. Turt. Brit. 

 Faun. p. 92. Flem. Brit. An. p. 193. Rock-Ling, Jago in Rays 

 Syn. Pise. p. 164. fig. 9. Three-bearded Cod, Penn. Brit. Zool. 

 vol. in. p. 201. pi. 33. no. 87. Id. (Edit. 1812.) vol. in. p. 267. 

 pi. 36. Mustele commun, Cuv. Reg. An. torn. n. p. 334. 



LENGTH. {Average.) From twelve to fifteen inches. According to 

 Pennant, sometimes reaches nineteen inches. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Body elongated; approaching cylindric ante- 

 riorly, compressed behind: depth tolerably uniform throughout, equal- 

 ling, behind the pectorals, one-seventh of the entire length : thickness, 

 at the same part, more than three-fourths of the depth : head depressed ; 



FF 



