THE FOUR-BEARDED ROCKLING. 451 



Atlantic and Norway seas, and is distinguished by the first 

 ray of the anterior dorsal fin presenting the form of the 

 letter T. On dissecting the specimen, I found the sto- 

 mach filled with shrimps and small crabs. The csecal 

 appendages were few in number ; the roe was large, the 

 ova small and numerous, and apparently in a fit state to 

 be deposited. It is probable that the habits of this fish 

 are similar to those of the other species, but from its rarity 

 it is difficult to determine. 



The Motella fimbria differs from the Motella quinquecir- 

 rata in the following respects ; — In the snout having but 

 three barbules ; the head one-sixth of the whole length ; 

 the teeth sharp and slender, placed in two rows in the un- 

 der jaw; the eye large, of an oval form ; the snout much 

 produced; the gape wide; from the point of the snout to 

 the posterior extremity of the maxillary, from thence to the 

 origin of the pectoral, equal ; the lateral line very distinct ; 

 the tips of the upper half of the caudal rays white ; the 

 second ray of the ventral fin but slightly produced ; the 

 ravs in the anterior half of the second dorsal, nearly double 

 the length of those of the anal : — whereas in the M. quin- 

 quecirrata the snout is furnished with four barbules ; the 

 head one-sixth the length as far as the base of the caudal 

 fin ; the teeth blunt and stout, placed in three rows in the 

 under jaw ; the eye small, nearly circular; the snout but 

 slightly produced; the gape rather small; from the point 

 of the snout to the posterior extremity of the maxillary, 

 from thence to the origin of the ventral, equal ; the lateral 

 line very indistinct ; the caudal fin of a uniform brown ; 

 the second ray of the ventral fin much produced ; the rays 

 in the anterior half of the second dorsal about equal the 

 lengths of those of the anal. 



The form and arrangement of the teeth in this species are 

 very striking. 



Ff 2 



