FOUR-BEARDED ROCKLING. 
Oadiis cimbrius, 
Gnde cimhre, 
Motella cimbria, 
•I “ 
Tdrton’s Linnaeus. 
Lacepede. 
Yakhell; Br. F., vol. ii, p. 274. 
Gunther ; Cat. Br. Museum, vol. iv, p. 367. 
This is particularly a northern species, but although met 
nlth on the coasts of Norway and Sweden it remained unknown 
to Linnaeus, at least to so late a date as the publication of the 
tenth edition of his System. It was first recognised as British 
by Dr. Parnell; but although in some places it is not uncommon, 
its distribution, even in the north of our islands, appears to 
be limited to certain districts; which circumstance may be caused 
chiefly by a congenial nature in the ground; but the reason of 
its remaining little known in some fishing stations while it is 
common in others, may arise from a difference in the method 
of fishing; for as its favoured residence is in waters of considerable 
depth, it can be taken only where long lines or bulteys are 
employed, the hooks of which, although generally large, it is 
able to swallow. On inquiry it has been found that there are 
stations in Scotland where this fish is unknown; but on the 
other hand, it is set down by Mr. Cocks as among the rarer 
fishes which he has seen so far to the south and west as Falmouth. 
In its proper haunts it keeps near the ground, where it feeds 
on such crustaceous animals and worms as are there common; 
but it is probable that like the others of its family, its appetite 
is exercised without much discrimination. 
A close description of the Four-bearded Rockling seems 
unnecessary, as in shape it bears a near resemblance to the 
three and five-bearded species, while it is the only one of this 
family we are acquainted with that is furnished with three barbs 
on the upper lip, and one of them as it stands alone projects 
