356 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



gill-opening large ; branchial rays seven ; operculum small, of a tri- 

 angular form, ending over the pectorals in a point. Scales on the 

 head., body, and on some portion of the fins, small and adherent ; late- 

 ral line indistinct. Number of fin rays — 



1st D. 50; 2d D. 50 ; P. 15 ; V. 7; A. 40 ; C. 20. 



This fish, in a great measure, resembles the last species, 

 and has been stated by some authors to be identical, vary- 

 ing only in the number of barbules on the snout ; but, if 

 we compare the fishes together, we shall find them to differ 

 in many respects, entitling them to rank as distinct species. 



In the Three-Bearded Rockling the teeth are of unequal 

 length and sharp pointed ; some of them are of large size, 

 and projecting considerably beyond the rest, particularly 

 in the lower jaw. In the Five-Bearded Rockling the teeth 

 are excessively blunt, all of the same size and of equal length. 

 The pectoral fins in the three-bearded species are longer than 

 the caudal fin, and the body is marked with a number of 

 large, scattered, dusky spots ; whereas in the Jive-bearded 

 species the pectorals are not so long as the caudal, and the 

 body has no spots. The Three-Bearded Rockling has about 

 fifty rays in the anal fin, and the snout is never furnished 

 with more than two barbules, and one on the chin. In the 

 Five-Bearded Rockling, the anal fin has never more than 

 forty-three rays, and the snout is always furnished with 

 four barbules ; besides, this species is seldom found more 

 than a foot in length, and the head is small, compared to 

 the length of the body. 



According to Mr Low, the Five-Bearded Rockling is 

 common in the Orkney Islands, where it is found under 

 stones, among sea-weed, but seldom exceeding nine to ten 

 inches in length. Mr Yarrell has found it a very common 

 fish on the Kentish coast in autumn, left by the retiring 

 of the tide in small pools among rocks. It has been taken 

 on the coast of Ireland, and I have found it of frequent 



