108 
FIVE-BEARDED ROCKLING. 
Five-tearded BocMing, 
Gadus mustela, 
i( ft 
Motella mustelo; 
“ quinquecirrata, 
it it 
WlIlOUGHBT; p, 121. 
Linnaeus. Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 193. 
Donovan; pi. 14. 
Jenyns; Manual, p. 450. 
Yakrell; Br. Pishes, vol. ii, p. 278. 
Gunther; Cat. Br. Museum, vol. iv, p. 364. 
This species bears so near a resemblance to the fish last 
described, as well in shape as colour, at least in the earlier 
stages of growth of the latter, as also in its general habits, 
that it appears unnecessary to enter on a detail of anything 
concerning it more than the particulars in which they are 
found to differ; and the only exception we have to make to 
this is in the account we shall give of the way in which the 
spawn is deposited, of which it remains a matter of doubt 
whether what has been observed belongs to one or the other 
of them, or whether both of them pursue the same habit. 
On our shores in the earlier condition of the Three-bearded 
Rockling, and until it reaches to about the length of six or 
eight inches, they are found in the same places, in like 
abundance, and bearing the same appearance; but I have 
never obtained an example from such a depth of water as 
the larger individuals of the three-bearded species, or, as Dr. 
Gunther describes it, the Spotted Rockling, M. maculata, is 
known to inhabit; nor has it happened that larger specimens 
have been met with than of the length given above. It is 
enumerated among the fishes of Scandinavia by Nilsson, and 
as existing in the Mediterranean by Risso, who indeed regards 
it as only a slight variation of the kindred species; but it is 
not mentioned among the fishes of Madeira by Mr. Lowe. 
The following observations as regards the care which this fish 
bestows on the safety of its spawn, were made by my now 
