_DISCOVERIES AMONGST ZOOPHYTES, MOLLUSCS, AND FISHES._
AT the same time that Edward was occupied in searching out new species
of Crustaceans for Mr. Spence Bate and Mr. Norman, he was also
collecting marine objects for other naturalists. He found numerous
Star-fish, Zoophytes, Molluscs, and Sponges, which he sent to his
naturalist correspondents to be named.
Edward always endeavoured to bring home the fishes, crustaceans, and
other sea objects that he captured, alive; for the purpose of watching
their manners and habits. He had always plenty of dishes in readiness,
filled with sea-water,—some having sand on the bottom, some mud, some
bits of gravel, and others bits of rock,—the latter being covered with
Algæ or Zoophytes. Into one of these vessels he would put his living
specimens, in order that he might watch and learn something of their
various characteristics. Some of his observations were published in
the _Zoologist_, and were regarded as highly interesting; many of them
being new to science.
This could hardly have been otherwise, for it was his habit, first
to _observe_, and then to kill. He never had any mercenary object in
view in wandering about with his gun and his traps; he only desired to
obtain knowledge; and what he observed he told as plainly and clearly
as he could, without knowing whether his observations had been printed
before or not. He only regretted that he had so little time to publish
his descriptions of the habits of animals, fishes, and crustaceans.
[Sidenote: _THE STAR-FISH._]
One of Edward’s most delightful studies was that of the Star-fish. He
published an article on the subject in the _Zoologist_. His object in
doing so, he said, was to induce others to employ their spare time in
discovering the Star-fishes found along the Banffshire coast, and to
make them publicly known. “If this,” said he, “were done generally
throughout the country, we might, ere long, be able to form something
like an adequate notion of what we really do possess; but until that
be done, we cannot expect to arrive at anything like a perfect idea
of what our British Fauna consists of, or where the objects are to be
found. Let Naturalists then, and observers of Nature everywhere, look
to and note this, that all who can may reap the benefit.”
[Sidenote: _THE BRITTLE STARS._]
Edward was as enthusiastic about the Star-fish as he was about any
other form of animated being. He would allow none of them to be called
“common.” They were all worthy of the most minute investigation;
and also worthy of the deepest admiration. Of the Daisy Brittle
Stars (_Ophiocoma bellis_) he says: “They are the most beautiful
of this beautiful tribe which I have ever seen. Their disks differ
considerably from the Star-fishes ordinarily met with, being of a
pyramidal or conical form, sometimes resembling the well-known shell
_Trochus tumidus_. In colour, they are like the finest variegated
polished mahogany; their disks exhibiting the most beautiful carved
work. The rays are short in proportion to the size of the disk—strong,
and closely beset with short, thick, hard spines. I may add that the
specimens I allude to, were procured from that heterogeneous repository
of marine objects, the stomach of a cod, which was taken about thirteen
miles out at sea.”
Edward’s children also helped him to procure Star-fishes. “I remember,”
he says, “my young friend Maggie, and three of her sisters, once
bringing me a large cargo of the Granulated Brittle Star (_Ophiocoma
granulata_)—nearly two hundred of them, which they had gathered up
where the fishermen clean their lines. I remember being particularly
struck with the numerous and brilliant colours displayed by the cargo,
exhibiting, as they did, all those tints—perhaps more than it is
possible to name—from the brightest scarlet down to the deepest black,
scarcely two being alike. Their disks, too, were remarkably varied;
some were of a perfect oval, whilst others were pentangular; some were
flat, whilst others were in a measure pyramidal, and what, in truth,
may be termed triangular in form.”
[Sidenote: _THE NEW STAR-FISH._]
Of all his daughters, Maggie seems to have been the most helpful. She
went down to Gardenston to obtain the refuse from the fishermen’s
lines, to collect fish, crustacea, and such like, and send them home
to her father by the carrier. She sometimes accompanied him along the
coast as far as Fraserburgh and Peterhead. One evening, while Edward
was partaking of his evening meal, Maggie entered and accosted him
joyfully—“Father, I’ve got a new Star-fish t’ ye, wi’ sax legs!” “I
hope so, Maggie,” he answered, “but I doubt it.” After he had finished
his supper, he said, “Now, Maggie, let’s see this prodigy of yours.”
After looking at it, “Just as I thought, Maggie,” said he, “it’s _not_
a new species—it’s only an _Ophiocoma Ballii_, but rather a peculiar
one in its way, having, as you said, ‘sax legs’ instead of five.”
Of the Rosy-Feather Star (_Comatula roseacea_)—which Edward had long
been searching for, and at last found—he says: “What a pretty creature!
but how brittle! and oh, how beautiful! Does any one wonder, as I used
to do, when he hears of a stone-lily or of a lily-star, as applied to
this genus? Then let him get a sight of a Crenard-star, and sure I
am that his surprise will give place to admiration. And how curious!
It was once supposed to have been the ’most numerous of the ocean’s
inhabitants,’ whereas now there are only about a dozen kinds to be
found alive,—one only in the British seas, and that but rarely met
with. Well, I am proud to be able to record its occurrence on the
Banffshire coast. The specimen I allude to, was taken from the stomach
of a cod.”
[Sidenote: _THE GREAT SEA-CUCUMBER._]
But still more wonderful is that rare species, the Great Sea-Cucumber
(_Cucumaria frondosa_), the king of the Holothuridæ family, found
on the Banffshire coast. Edward’s specimen was brought up on the
fishermen’s lines. “When at rest,” he says, “it is fully sixteen
inches long. It is of a very deep purple on all except the under side,
which is greyish. It is a most wonderful, and at the same time a most
interesting animal. What strange forms and curious shapes it assumes at
will! Now it seems like a pear, and again like a large purse or long
pudding. Sometimes it has the appearance of two monster potatoes joined
endways,—from which it diverges into a single bulb, with no suckers
visible; and again it looks as long as my arm, rough and warty-looking.
Its tentacula too, how curious they are! Simple to appearance, yet
how complete and how beautiful withal. What strange forms and what
beauteous creatures and inconceivable things there are in the ocean’s
depths! What a pity it is that we cannot traverse its hidden fields and
explore its untrodden caverns!”
[Sidenote: _THE DEAD-MAN’S PAPS._]
Edward found numerous Zoophytes along the coast, which excited his
admiration almost as much as the Star-fish. Of one species, called
“dead-men’s paps, sea-fingers, etc.” (_Alcyonium digitatum_), he
says, “It is frequently brought ashore by the fishermen, attached to
shells and stones. It is curious to observe the strange and fantastic
forms which these creatures at times assume. They are loathed by the
generality of people when found on the sands. But were they to be seen
in their proper element, with the beautiful leaf-like tentacula of
the little polyps, thousands of which compose the living mass, these
feelings of loathing would give place to wonder and delight. Touch
one of those polyps, and it instantly contracts and withdraws its
tentacles, while the others continue their movements. But touch them
again and again, and they will shrink and hide themselves in their
fleshy home, which becomes greatly reduced in bulk. Wait a little,
and you will observe the pap assume its natural size, and the surface
will appear roughish and covered with small protuberances. From these
asperities the numerous polyps may now be noticed, slowly, and almost
imperceptibly, emerging one by one; and having gained a sufficient
height, their slender and fragile arms, or tentacula, will also be
observed cautiously expanding, which, when nearly fully developed,
gives to the whole mass the enchanting appearance of a bouquet of
flowers of the richest dye, or of a gaudy-coloured wreath of beautiful
and delicate blossoms, combined in one cluster, enough to excite wonder
and admiration even in the dullest mind.”
[Sidenote: _THE ASCIDIANS._]
Without following Edward farther in his description of the Zoophytes,
we may proceed to state that he was for some time engaged in collecting
Molluscs for Mr. Alder of Newcastle, who was engaged in writing a
paper on the subject. Having observed the great number of Tunicata, or
acephalous Molluscs, found upon the fishermen’s lines, Edward proceeded
to collect and examine these lower productions of marine life. As
usual, he wished to have them named, and he sent a large number of
specimens to Mr. Alder for the purpose. Some of Mr. Alder’s letters
have been preserved, from which a few extracts are subjoined:—
“I have received yours of the 16th inst. (October 1864), and also two
parcels of Ascidians. I shall be most happy to receive and name for
you any Tunicata you may send. Our communications may be mutually
advantageous, as I should like to have information concerning the
Tunicata of your coast, being engaged upon a work on the British
species. In the first parcel that came, I could only find one
specimen, though you mention parts of two or three. It was, I think,
a Botryllida encrusting the stem of a seaweed, but of what species I
cannot say. In the second parcel, received this morning, there is a
piece of _Leptoclinum punctatum_, and also part of an Ascidian which
appears to be _A. parallelogramma_. The Botryllida are very difficult
to distinguish unless they are quite fresh. I have never heard of
_Aplidium lobatum_ being found in this country. It is a Red Sea and
Mediterranean species. . . . I am much obliged to my friend Mr. Norman
for recommending you to send specimens to me, and I shall be glad to
hear from you again.”
The specimen of _Aplidium lobatum_ which Edward sent to Mr. Alder, was
cast ashore at Banff; though its usual habitat is the Indian Ocean, the
Red Sea, and the Mediterranean.
In a future letter Mr. Alder says: “I received your box containing
a specimen of _Ascidia sordida_ (young), and also a Zoophyte, the
_Alcyonidium gelatinosum_, for which accept my thanks. I see that you
have been very successful in discovering small fish. Your account
of them is very interesting. I wish any one on our coast would pay
attention to these things, but we have no one living permanently on the
coast that cares anything about Natural History.”
[Sidenote: _WANT OF OBSERVERS._]
Edward afterwards discovered a fine specimen of the _Onychoteuthes
Bartlingii_ or _Banksii_. It was the first met with in Britain,—the
range of the species being said to be from Norway to the Cape and
Indian Ocean. This specimen was found on the beach betwixt the mouth
of the river Deveron and the town of Macduff. Doubtless many other
specimens of this and other marine animals had been cast upon the beach
before, but no one had taken the trouble to look for or observe them.
Many, also, of the fishes and marine objects which Edward was the first
to discover, had probably been haunting the Moray Firth for hundreds
or thousands of years; but science had not yet been born in the
district, and there were none who had the seeing eye and the observant
faculties of our Banffshire Naturalist.
[Sidenote: _ANOTHER DISCOVERY._]
Edward also discovered a specimen of the _Leptoclinum punctatum_ which
had been thrown on shore during a severe storm. It was of a most
beautiful greenish colour, variegated with steel blue. This specimen
he sent to Mr. Alder, who answered him in the following letter:—“The
Ascidian which you have sent me is a Leptoclinum, and may probably be
a new species. There are few of that genus with star-shaped calcareous
crystals embedded in them. The species that you have sent has the
star-shaped crystals, and differs in colour from any I have seen, being
of a greenish-blue colour. I put it into water to moisten it after it
came, and it stained the water of a blue colour. I presume, therefore,
that it would be of that colour when fresh. It seems, from the seaweed
to which it is attached, to be a littoral species. I shall be glad of
any other information which you can give me about it.”
This was the last letter Edward received from Mr. Alder. As he was
about to send off another large cargo of Tunicata to Newcastle,
containing three new species, he received notice of Mr. Alder’s sudden
death; and knowing of no other person who could name his Ascidians,
he ceased collecting them; although there is still a rich field for
students of Mollusca along the Banffshire coast. “It is young, ardent,
and devoted workers,” said Edward, “that are wanted to bring such
things to light.”
[Sidenote: _MR. COUCH OF POLPERRO._]
We next proceed to mention Edward’s researches as to new fishes.
Having discovered a specimen of Drummond’s Echiodon—the first that
had ever been found in the Firth,—Edward published an account of it
in the _Zoologist_ for April 1863, and offered to afford Naturalists
the opportunity of examining it. The article came under the notice of
Mr. Jonathan Couch, of Polperro, in Cornwall, who was then engaged in
writing his celebrated work on British Fishes; and he entered into a
correspondence with Edward on the subject. The first letter that Mr.
Couch wrote to Edward did not reach him. It was returned to Polperro.
Banff seems not to have been known at the General Post Office. Another
letter, with “N. B.” added, reached its address. Mr. Couch requested an
inspection of the curious fish, together with an account of its exact
colour when fresh from the sea, and also the particular circumstances,
of weather or otherwise, under which so large a number of the fishes
had been taken. The information asked for, was at once furnished by
Edward. Dr. Gray also requested a specimen for the British Museum,
which was forwarded to London.
[Sidenote: _THE WRASSES._]
Now that Edward had found another opening for his discoveries, he
proceeded to send numerous new specimens of fish for Mr. Couch’s
identification. Mr. Couch having informed him that he was then
employed upon the Wrasses, Edward immediately began to search for
Wrasses, and shortly after he despatched numbers of them to Polperro.
Among the specimens of Wrass (_labrus_) which Edward sent to Mr. Couch,
there was one which Cuvier described as being found only in New Guinea,
on the farther side of the world. “And yet,” said Mr. Couch, after
examining the fish, “I cannot suppose that fishes from New Guinea can
have visited you.” The finding of this fish at New Guinea and at the
Moray Firth furnished only another illustration of the scarcity of
observers in Natural History; for it must certainly, like most other
species, have existed in numerous other parts of the world besides
these.
[Sidenote: _A JUMPING WRASSE._]
In describing his little fish, Edward says: “Although I cannot say
much of importance concerning the traits of our little friend, still
there is one which cannot be passed over in silence. It is this—on
coming out of the water after I took the prize, I had occasion to lay
it down upon the sand until a bottle was prepared for its reception and
exclusive use, as I was anxious to take it home alive, so that I might
see and learn as much of its habits as possible. Whilst thus employed,
I was rather surprised at seeing it frequently leap several inches at
a time. Thinking that the damp sand might have in some way or other
aided the operation, when I got home I placed it on a dry board to see
how it would perform there. It did just the same. Away it jumped, jump
after jump, until I was fully satisfied that there was no difference
as to place; after which I put him again into his little aquarium. I
now observed, however, that the tail, which is pretty large, was the
chief and most important object used. The head and shoulders were first
raised a little, and then, by a doubling of the tail, which acted as
a kind of spring, the animal was, by a slight jerk, enabled to raise
and propel itself forward, or to either side, and not unfrequently
right over. In the water, too, when touched with anything, instead of
swimming away as fish generally do, it merely leaped or jerked to one
side in order to avoid the annoyance. I am not exactly aware whether
this gymnastic performance is a common propensity with this family of
fishes or not, but it was so with this specimen.”
After further observations, Edward came to the conclusion that these
little fishes were inhabitants of our own seas, but that they differed
from those which Cuvier had described. He was of opinion that, from the
differences which he had observed between the true Wrasses and the fish
in question, it might yet be necessary, after further investigation, to
place it in a _new_ or _sub-genus_. In that case a portion of the name
would require to be changed, and until then, Edward held that its name
should be the “Microscopical Wrasse of the Moray Firth.”
[Sidenote: _A NEW MIDGE._]
Another batch of little fishes which Edward sent to Mr. Couch led to
an interesting correspondence. Edward no sooner found an opening for
further work on the sea-shore, than he went into it with enthusiasm.
As Mr. Couch was approaching the conclusion of his work, Edward seemed
to become more energetic than before. Thus Mr. Couch had written out
and sent off his history and description of the Echiodon to be printed,
before he knew of Edward’s discovery. And now there arrived from Banff
another batch of specimens, containing a little fish, which Mr. Couch
declared to be a _new species_, and even a _new genus_. At first he
supposed it to be the Mackerel Midge, but after a careful examination,
he declared it to be entirely new. Mr. Couch concluded his letter,
containing his views as to the new fish, with these words:—“You will
perceive that I set a great value on your communications, and I shall
take care to acknowledge them when I speak of these different species.”
Edward, in his reply to Couch, observed: “I was aware that the new fish
was not the Mackerel Midge, for I have examined it. But this is a far
more splendid species; in fact, its colours and resplendence equal, if
they do not excel, those of the pretty Argentine. The one I sent you
first, I kept alive for two days. It was one of the most restless and
watchful fishes I had ever seen. I took it with a small hand-net, which
I use for taking the smaller crustaceans. I only took one at first;
but a few days after, I took several together. I also found some cast
ashore on the sands. Those that I send now are old and young. There
is a little thing just out of the egg; it has the ovary sac still
attached. Be kind enough, when you write me, to let me know the name of
the fish.”
[Sidenote: _COUCHIA THOMPSONI._]
In replying to Edward, Couch said: “Your last box has reached me, with
its contents in good order, for which I heartily thank you. I have
already written an account of the fish. My intention is to give it the
name of _Couchia Thompsoni_; and as I shall particularly refer to you,
I think it may prove to your advantage to obtain as many specimens
as possible, to answer any demands that may be made upon you. . . . The
reason why I have not answered you sooner is, that I have been much
distressed by the loss of my eldest son—an eminent surgeon, living at
Penzance, in attendance on whom I was at that town for a fortnight.
He was eminent in many departments of science, and was only forty-six
years of age when he died. You may judge from this, that I have had but
little disposition to active exertion for some time past. I submit,
as he was able to do, to the will of God, but there is difficulty in
saying from the heart, ‘His will be done.’”
[Sidenote: _THE NEW FISH._]
Edward discovered the above new fish in May 1863. After a few weeks, it
disappeared from the coast, and nothing further was seen of it until
the following May, when Edward took a few specimens. It disappeared
again, and reappeared towards the end of August. “As this,” he says,
“was a lucky chance, and one not to be lost, I took a considerable
number, not with the intention of destroying the beautiful little
creatures—as beautiful they truly are,—but for the purpose of
ascertaining how they now stood as to size. Being satisfied as to this,
I committed the most of them again to their native element, and right
glad they were to be set once more at liberty. I found that, although
late in the season, they had not in any way increased in bulk, as
compared with those which were taken in spring. From this important
and opportune circumstance, too, it is now my firm and decided belief
that their average length does not exceed an inch. It would seem that
they are a deep-water fish, and, herring-like, only visit the shore
occasionally. Like that fish, too, they are gregarious—that is, they
go in small shoals. They seem to be about the fleetest, most active,
and most vigilant of the finny tribes. Besides what I observed in
the sea itself, I kept a number of them alive, placed in the window
before me when at work, so that I had both the pleasure as well as the
satisfaction of observing their habits at my leisure; and I was well
repaid for my time and patience.”
So soon as this discovery became known to the scientific world,
numerous inquiries were made to Edward for specimens of the “New Fish;”
and amongst others, Dr. Gray sent for some specimens for the Home
Department of the British Museum.
Edward continued to ply Mr. Couch with new species of fish. On the 5th
September 1864, he said: “I herewith send you another small fish, which
I hope you will give me your opinion upon at your leisure. I freely
confess that I am at a loss about it. Although small, it is so well
proportioned in every respect, so firm, and so compact, that I cannot
believe it to be a young specimen. I took it about a fortnight since,
in a small shoal of Thompson’s Midge; and though I have been netting
each day since then, I have not yet met with another.”
Mr. Couch was equally at a loss with Edward. At first he said, “It
appears to be a _Wrass labrus_, but it is not exactly like any of the
known kinds.” In his next letter he said, “I think your little fish is
the young of the Rock Goby.” This did not satisfy Edward. He answered
that “the fish, though little, was a full-grown fish; and that it
might possibly be one of Thompson’s Irish fish.” “No,” replied Couch;
“it will be plain to you that it is not Irish from Mr. Thompson’s own
description,” which he then gave. At last he thought it to be “the true
Mackerel Midge.” He examined the little fish again, and finally came
to the conclusion that it was a long-lost fish—Montagu’s Midge, or the
Silvery Gade.
[Sidenote: _COLONEL MONTAGU._]
Colonel George Montagu was an old soldier and sportsman, who had
flourished in Devonshire some seventy years before. Living in the
country and by the sea-shore, his attention was directed to the pursuit
of Natural History. At first it was his hobby, and then it became
his study. He observed birds carefully; this was natural to him as
a sportsman. He published an _Ornithological Dictionary of British
Birds_. But his range of study broadened. The sea-shore always presents
a great attraction for Naturalists. The sea is a wonderful nursery of
nature. The creatures that live in and upon it are so utterly different
from those which we meet with by land. Then, everything connected with
the ocean is full of wonder.
[Sidenote: _MONTAGU’S CLOSE OBSERVATION._]
Colonel Montagu was an extraordinary observer. He was a man who
possessed the _seeing_ eye. He forgot nothing that he once clearly
saw. He was one of the best Naturalists, so far as logical acumen and
earnest research were concerned, that England has ever seen. The late
Professor Forbes said of him that “had he been educated a physiologist,
and made the study of Nature his aim and not his amusement, his would
have been one of the greatest names in the whole range of British
science. There is no question about the identity of any animal that
Montagu described. . . . He was a forward-looking philosopher; he spoke
of every creature as if one exceeding like it, and yet different
from it, would be washed up by the waves next tide. Consequently his
descriptions are permanent.” We might also say of Edward, that although
comparatively uneducated, he possessed precisely the same qualities
of observing and seeing. Nothing that once came under his eyes was
forgotten. He remembered, and could describe fluently and vividly, the
form, habits, and habitats of the immense variety of animals that came
under his observation.
[Sidenote: _MONTAGU’S MIDGE._]
Now, this Colonel Montagu had in 1808 discovered on the shore of South
Devonshire the same Midge that Edward rediscovered in 1864 on the
shore of the Moray Firth. Colonel Montagu had clearly and distinctly
described the fish in the second volume of the _Memoirs of the
Wernerian Natural History Society_; but he had not given any figure of
it. He named it the Silvery Gade (_Gadus argenteolus_). The Colonel
passed away, and with him all further notice of his fish. It was never
again observed until, fifty-six years later, it was rediscovered by
Edward. Future writers on British fishes ignored it. They believed
that Colonel Montagu had been mistaken, and had merely described
the young of some species already known. Even Mr. Couch, the most
accomplished ichthyologist of his time, had swept it out of his list of
British fishes. But Montagu was too close an observer to be mistaken.
As Professor Forbes had said of him—“There is no question about the
identity of any animal that he described; consequently his descriptions
are permanent.”
[Sidenote: _EDWARD ITS REDISCOVERER._]
Hence the surprise of Mr. Couch on receiving from Edward the identical
fish that had so long been lost. “There is one of your little fishes,”
he said in his reply to Edward’s letter, “that I am satisfied about,
and the history of which is a matter of much interest. You are
well acquainted with the little Mackerel Midge, first made known by
myself, and which has been denominated _Couchia glauca_ by Thompson.
But previously to this, Colonel Montagu had published an account of a
species much like it, but differing in having only two barbels on the
snout. It does not appear that any figure was given, but he speaks of
them as occurring in Devonshire, where he lived. No one has seen a fish
which answers to his description since that time—I suppose more than
fifty years ago; and it has been judged that some mistake was made,
especially as he never gave a notice of the Midge with four barbels.
Yet Montagu was a good Naturalist, and a correct observer. He calls his
fish Silvery Gade; for he wrote before Cuvier made these fishes into a
new genus, termed Motella. But your fish answers closely to Montagu’s
lost fish. When I inform you that Montagu gives the number of rays
in the fins, you may judge how closely he examined this fish. When
my _History of British Fishes_ is ended, I intend to give a few as a
supplement, and as ascertained too late to fall into the regular order.
This little fish will find a place there, when I shall take care to
mention your name as its rediscoverer.”
In a notice which Edward afterwards gave of the fish he observed: “I
may mention that this genus of little fishes, designated with the
appellation of _Midges_ from their small size, and containing three
species, are now authentically known to be inhabitants of the Moray
Firth, all three, both young and old of each, having been procured
here,—a circumstance which perhaps can be said of no other single
district but our own. This, not so much for the lack of the fish
themselves, as from the want of _searchers_ for these things; for we
cannot allow ourselves to think for a single moment, that they could be
found in so widely distant localities as Cornwall, Belfast, Devon, and
here, and not be met with at intermediate places. Such a thing appears
to me to be one of those affairs called _impossibilities_. Let those
then who live on the coast, and have time and a mind for these things,
or whether they have time or not, if they have the Will,—let such, I
say, look better about them, and I doubt not but they will find many of
these little gems, as well as other rarities of a similar and kindred
nature.”
[Sidenote: _MIDGES IN MORAY FIRTH._]
Edward had not yet finished his discovery of Midges in the Moray
Firth. In November 1865 he sent to Mr. Couch a specimen of a little
fish which he had caught, and which seemed quite new to him. Mr. Couch
replied that it was not only new to him, but new to science. Mr. Couch
expressed his regret that the Midge “had come too late to find a place
by the side of its near relation, Montagu’s Midge, in his work, the
last number of which had just been published.” He also added: “As your
little fish is certainly new, I have thought of sending an account of
it to the Linnean Society, in which case I should think it only a
piece of justice to affix your name to it.”
[Sidenote: _EDWARD’S MIDGE._]
[Illustration: EDWARD’S MIDGE—_Couchia Edwardii._]
Mr. Couch accordingly prepared a paper for the Linnean Society,[51]
in which he embodied Edward’s description of the fish, and of its
habits and habitat. He also attached to it the name of Edward’s Midge,
_Couchia Edwardii_. In the course of Mr. Couch’s paper, he says:—
[Sidenote: _COUCHIA EDWARDII._]
“Long before the discovery of the Mackerel Midge as
a separate species, an account had been given by
Colonel Montagu of a kindred fish, which he supposed
to be common to the coast of Devonshire, and which he
described as being distinguished by the possession of a
pair only of the frontal barbs; and yet for more than
half a century this species of Midge had remained in
obscurity, until it was again brought to light by the
diligent and acute observation of Mr. Thomas Edward
of Banff, who found it in some abundance in the Moray
Firth, and kindly supplied the writer with examples,
which enabled him to give an account of it, with a
figure, in the concluding portion of the fourth volume
of his _History of the Fishes of the British Islands_.
The five-bearded species had been already represented
in a coloured figure in the third volume of the same
book, as also in Mr. Yarrell’s well-known volumes.
But a vacancy still existed in the analogy between
the species of the nearly allied genera _Motella_
and _Couchia_; and it is this, again, we are able to
supply through the persevering diligence of Mr. Edward,
whose intelligence enabled him to detect the existence
of another species, and whose kindness has, with an
example, communicated materials which enable the writer
to produce, with a satisfactory likeness, a somewhat
extended notice of its actions, the latter of which
will be described, as far as can be, in this attentive
observer’s own words. The length of the example from
which my notes were taken is an inch and five-eighths;
and as half a dozen others were about the same size,
it may be judged to be their usual magnitude, as it
does not differ much also from that of _C. glauca_ and
_C. Montagui_. Compared with the latter, its shape is
more slender, the pectoral fin rather more lengthened
and pointed, the ventral fins longer and slender, the
cilia on the back, along the edge of the membrane, more
extended, apparently more numerous, and very fine; barb
on the lower jaw long; but what especially marks this
little fish as distinct from the other species is,
that, besides the pair of barbs in front of the head,
there is a single one of much larger size in front
of the upper lip, and which points directly forward
with a slight inclination downward, thus analogically
answering to the middle barb that projects from the
snout of the four-bearded Rockling (_Motella cimbria_).
It is probable that there are teeth in the jaws, but
they can scarcely be seen, and there is a row of pores
along each border of the superior maxillary bone. Some
further particulars of this fish I prefer to give in
the words of its discoverer, who describes its colour
as a beautiful deep green along the back when caught,
the sides brilliantly white; but when it reached me,
preserved in spirit, it was blue, with a tinge of the
same along the lateral line. In some examples in Mr.
Edward’s possession the colour on the back was a faint
yellow, with a narrow stripe of bluish purple on the
side, and in all of them the silvery hue of the lower
portions of the body is found to rise nearer the back
than in the other species of this genus. The back also
and head were thickly covered with very small, dark,
star-like spots, which, together with two narrow yellow
streaks extending from the top of the head, above the
mouth, and diverging to the eyes, had disappeared when
subjected to my examination. Iris of the eye silvery,
the pupil bluish-green; the fins dull grey, as also the
pair of barbs; but the single one on the lip at its
root is almost of as deep a colour as the top of the
head and back. . . .
“I regard it as no other than an act of justice to
the discoverer of this fish to assign to it the name
of Edward’s Midge (_Couchia Edwardii_), of which the
specific character is sufficiently obvious.”
Mr. Edward followed up this paper by a fuller description of the Midge,
after he had had an opportunity of observing a much larger number of
specimens.[52]
[Sidenote: _OTHER NEW FISHES._]
It is scarcely necessary to describe at length the large number of new
fishes belonging to the Moray Firth which Edward for the first time
recognised and described. For instance, the Bonito, the Tunny—fishes
for the most part found in the Mediterranean,—the Pilot-fish, the
Bear-fish, the Short Sun-fish, the Bald-fish, the Scald-fish,
and several species of Sharks. Strange fishes such as these had
occasionally been found before; but Edward never missed the opportunity
of carefully observing them and describing their habits, sometimes
in the _Zoologist_ and the _Naturalist_, and at other times in the
_Banffshire Journal_. He also endeavoured to secure as many specimens
as possible for the Banff Museum, of which he was curator.
[Sidenote: _BEST AUTHORITIES MISTAKEN._]
When Edward informed Mr. Couch of the struggles and difficulties he
had to encounter in the formation of a museum, the latter replied:
“I can sympathise with you, with a smile, at your annoyances and
disappointments as regards your attempts at a museum; but a real
love of nature, and even a wish for anything beyond a very slight
acquaintance with it, are rare; and can scarcely be infused into any
one not naturally endued with so great a blessing. With your museum
there ought to be a collection of books on Natural History. . .
What you say about the new Midge reminds me of what occurred when I
first announced the discovery of the Mackerel Midge. A paper on it
was read before the Linnean Society, but they hesitated to publish
it—thinking, I believe, as in the present case—that the fish was a
young condition of some other known species. . . There is much in the
internal structure of fishes that is not known generally, but which
can only be ascertained by dissection. In fact, the riches of nature
are inexhaustible; but if we cannot discover all, there is no reason
why we should not continue our search after more of them. The most
unsatisfactory part of the subject is, to find how greatly in some
instances our best authorities are mistaken.”
[Sidenote: _THE LINNEAN SOCIETY._]
The works of Mr. Couch and Mr. Spence Bate being now published,
and both of these gentlemen having been so much indebted to the
investigations of Edward, it occurred to both of them to endeavour to
get him elected an Associate of the Linnean Society, as a reward for
his labours. Mr. Couch, in his letter to Edward of the 1st November
1865, says: “There is another thing which I think worthy of your
notice; for, as the world goes, honour is of some value; and the honour
I refer to is of intrinsic value, at the same time that it will cost
you nothing. In the Linnean Society there is a company of Associates
(A.L.S.) limited to thirty; but at this time I think there are no more
than twenty-eight. These Associates are entitled to several privileges
in the society; and in order to be elected, it is necessary to obtain
the recommendation of at least three of the Fellows, which I suppose
you can procure. I shall feel a pleasure in signing the necessary
application, and, if applied to, I have no doubt Dr. Gray will do the
same.”
Mr. Bate warmly concurred in the proposal. The application was drawn
up, signed, and sent to the Linnean Society. Dr. Gray was of opinion
that a similar application should have been made to the Zoological
Society for Edward’s admission as an Associate. But this does not
seem to have been done. At length the day of the election arrived,
and on the 5th of April 1866, Edward was unanimously elected an
Associate.[53] Mr. Couch wrote to congratulate him. He said: “The
number of Associates is now limited to a few, so that it is very
difficult to get elected, but then it is a greater honour.”
It never rains but it pours. A few months later, Edward was unanimously
admitted a member of the Aberdeen Natural History Society, at its
monthly meeting, held in Marischal College; and in March 1867, he was
furnished with the diploma of the Glasgow Natural History Society.
[Sidenote: _PROPHET WITHOUT HONOUR._]
“But a prophet is not without honour, save in his own country.”
Although Banff possessed an “Institution for Science, Literature, and
the Arts, and for the encouragement of native genius and talent,” the
members did not even elect Edward an honorary member. The Linnean
Society—perhaps the most distinguished Association of Naturalists in
the world—had discovered Edward’s genius and talent, and elected him
an Associate. But the scientific men of Banff fought shy of the native
shoemaker. It may, however, be added, that the Banff Institution,
finding no native nor any other genius and talent to encourage, became
defunct in 1875, and handed over their collection to the corporation,
whose property it now is.
FOOTNOTES:
[51] _Linnean Society’s Journal_; “Zoology,” vol. ix. p. 38.
[52] “A few additional Particulars regarding _Couchia Edwardii_. By
Thomas Edward, A.L.S.” _Linnean Society’s Journal_; “Zoology,” vol. x.
[53] On looking over the records of the Linnean Society, we find that
on the 1st of February 1866, Thomas Edward was proposed as an Associate
by C. Spence Bate, Jonathan Couch, A. Hancock, W. N. Brady, J. E. Gray,
and M. W. Baird. He was elected by ballot on the 5th of April 1866.