FISHES. 283 



Motella mustella (L.). Five-bearded Rockling. 



Low says this species, which he calls the " Whistle-fish," is com- 

 monly found under stones, seldom exceeding 9 or 10 inches 

 in length, and is reckoned pretty good eating. 



Motella tricirrata (Bl). Three-bearded Rockling. 



Baikie records a single example of this fish from Stromness. 



Raniceps trifurcus (Walb.}. Tadpole Hake. 



The only notice we have of this species is recorded by Day in his 

 British Fishes (vol. i. p. 321). "June 20th, 1876, one, 8 inches 

 long, was found at Kirkwall, Orkney, in a dying condition off 

 the pier-head (J. Bruce. Zool, p. 5049)." 



Brosmius brosme (Mull). Torsk; Tusk. 



Common. Generally used salted, and, like the Ling, is considered 

 a valuable fish. 



Family OPHIDIID^. 



Ammodytes lanceolatus, Lesauv. Greater Sand Launce. 

 Kecorded as rare in Orkney by W. Baikie. 



Ammodytes tobianus, L. Lesser Sand Launce. 



According to Low, very common at particular times of year in the 

 heaps of sand thrown up by the tide, and in some places was 

 taken, as is now the case, with a reaping-hook, blunted. 

 Mr. Irvine-Fortescue writes us as follows : 

 "I have specimens of what I take to be this fish, length 2-3 

 inches no doubt not fully grown. The remarkable thing was 

 that, on June 13th, 1884, for the first time during over fifteen 

 years, I observed them congregated in dense masses, so as to form 



