FISHES. 
277 
143. Raniceps trifurcus {JValh.), Lesser Forkbeard. 
Edward says that several have been known to have been 
taken off Banffshire (Day, Brit. Fishes, vol. i. p. 321). Mr. 
Peach also includes it in his Caithness list, on the authority 
of Mr. Anderson of the Antiquarian Museum, Edinburgh. 
144. Brosmius brosme (Mull.). Torsk; Tusk. 
Occasionally caught on the cod lines; becomes more numerous 
further north (Peach). 
Mr. Eeid says it has been brought in to Wick much 
more frequently of late years, since larger full-decked boats 
have been going 50 to 60 miles north-east of ISToss Head to 
fish in the winter. Being a deep-sea fish, it rarely comes 
close to land, but has been caught by fishermen on the 
Minch, from Loch Inver, and we ourselves caught four 
in one day in July 1886, on the Stoir cod banks, in 
40 fathoms of water. 
Family OPHIDIID^. 
145. Ophidium broussonettii, Mull. Bearded Ophidium. 
146. Fierasfer dentatus, Cuv. Drummond's Echiodon. 
"In March 1863 I took the first specimen of this strange- 
looking fish I had ever seen. Since then, however, I have 
met with it several times, and always in winter, — save once, 
when I obtained it in summer. They were unknown in 
the Firth before. Specimens from here are now in the 
British Museum " (Edward). 
147. Ammodytes lanceolatus, Lesauvage. Larger Launce. 
One example of this fish is recorded from the Moray Firth, 
taken from the stomach of a cod (Day, Brit. Fishes, vol. i. 
p. 331). 
