64 NATURAL HISTORY. 



occurs throughout the North Atlantic, being found in Chesapeake Bay, as well as in Scandinavia. 

 It appears in multitudes about May in the English Channel, and in summer keeps near to the 

 surface. It dies instantly on being taken out of the water. The length varies from an inch to an 

 inch and a half. The colour of the back is sometimes nearly black, and sometimes bluish-green ; 

 the fins and belly are always silvery white. There are four barbels projecting from the flattened, 

 obtuse head, and one from the under jaw. The second species (Couchia argentata) is commonly 

 known as the Silvery Gade, which in Greenland reaches a length of three inches. 



The Rocklings belong to the genus Motella, in which the head is no longer compressed. The 

 small first dorsal fin consists of fringes partly concealed in a groove, much as in Couchia. There 

 are fifteen or sixteen abdominal vertebrae, and thirty-two or thirty-three caudal vertebrae. The 

 species occur on the coasts of Europe, Iceland, and Greenland. The Five-bearded Rockling (Motella 

 mustela) has a barbel on the chin, with two barbels on the upper lip near the point of the nose, and 

 two longer ones a little farther back. The body in its upper part is of a dark brown colour, but 

 the sides become lighter, and the ventral fins and belly are white. The lateral line, which curves 

 upward in its anterior part, is marked by intermittent white lines. It seldom exceeds a length of 

 nine or ten inches, but has been found nearly twice as long. The species spawns in winter, and 

 feeds on young fishes and thin-shelled Crustacea. The Three-bearded Rockling has barbels only on 

 the upper lip ; like the five-bearded species, it hides itself under stones, and does not take the hook. 

 This species is sometimes thrown on shore in stormy weather entangled with seaweed. Its appear- 

 ance has been compared to that of the Ling. Couch states that it is not used for food, because 

 it acquires an unpleasant odour a few hours after being caught. Its length reaches seventeen 

 inches. Two other species of the genus occur in the British Seas. One, the Four-bearded Rockling 

 (Motella cimbrid), has four barbels, one at each of the nostrils, a third on the middle, of the snout, 

 and the fourth on the chin. In this species the first ray of the anterior dorsal fin is greatly pro- 

 longed. The other species is the Motella maculata. One other species of the genus is known 

 from Japan. 



The Tadpole Hake (Raniceps trifurcus) is the only member of the genus Raniceps. It has 

 a large broad head, and a moderately long body. There is a barb on the lower jaw. It is a 

 wandering, solitary fish, rarely taken. Like the Rocklings, it acquires a strong odour a few hours 

 after it has been caught. Its length seldom exceeds twelve inches. Occasionally it is brought to 

 market with Sprats. The edge of the lip is black. The body has a darkish-brown colour, with a blue 

 lustre, which is lost when the animal dies. Its food consists of Star-fishes, Molluscs, and Crustacea. 

 The intestine has no pancreas. The swim-bladder is transversely divided into two parts, of which 

 the anterior is the larger. 



THE TORSK.* 



The Torsk has a single dorsal fin and a narrow ventral fin, formed of five rays. The head has a 

 single barbel ; the upper jaw is the longer. The species ranges round the shores of the noi'th of 

 Europe and the Atlantic coast of the United States, and extends into the Polar regions. A second 

 species, with two barbels on the chin (Brosmius flavescens), is taken on the banks of Newfoundland. 

 The Torsk is sometimes seen in the Edinburgh market, being especially abundant in the Shetland 

 Isles, and the fishermen take it on lines set for Cod and Ling. It is described as firm and tough 

 when eaten fresh, but much better when cured and boiled. Its length varies from eighteen inches 

 to three feet or more. It lives on rocky bottoms overgrown with seaweeds, among which it spawns. 

 It is plentiful on the coasts of Norway, and is often thrown up dead in immense numbers on the 

 .Faroe Isles and the South of Iceland during storms. 



FAMILY IV. OPHIDIID^E. 



This family comprises a group of fishes including sixteen genera, which are widely distributed 

 in the ocean. There is only one dorsal fin in all these types. The ventral fin is very variable, 

 being in some genera present and attached to the shoulder girdle, and in others replaced by a 

 j>air of barbels. Several genera have no ventral fin whatever, and in some of these the vent 



* Brosmius Irosme. 



