Miscellaneous. 4.25 
once proceeded to the spot, where to their astonishment they found 
a large fish, in about four feet of water, lashing away with its powerful 
tail, evidently intent on beating a hasty retreat. After an obstinate 
resistance, in which the men were half drowned, and one of them 
severely wounded, this strange visitor was secured, and brought with 
all dispatch into the Falmouth fish-market. Fortunately I was close 
at hand when sent for, and consequently had an excellent opportunity 
of making a minute examination of the creature while still alive. It 
measured 4 feet in length, and weighed over a hundredweight. It 
was without exception one of the most beautiful sights the eye could 
light upon, the whole surface of the body presenting the appearance 
of most highly polished silver, having a most brilliant coating of the 
richest scarlet. The silvery colour of the belly, as in the mackerel, 
&c., presented a variety of evanescent tints, which with the death of 
the fish totally disappeared. A month or so since, a scarlet and 
silver fish was taken at Gorranhaven and examined by Mr. Couch; 
but of this example I have never seen a detailed or authenticated 
report, consequently I am wholly at a loss to decide as to whether 
the two examples are identical or not. Iam strongly of opinion 
that the fish captured here yesterday is no other than the scarlet and 
silver fish of the Mediterranean, although there is a strange discre- 
pancy in the size of this and Mr. Couch’s example. I have taken a 
sketch and also a minute description of the creature as it appeared 
whilst alive; so that I have no doubt whatever of being able ina 
day or two to assign it its legitimate place in our British fauna. 
“Yours very truly, 
“W.K. Butumore, M.D.” 
**] Stratton Place, Falmouth. 
Oct. 1, 1866.” 
[To Dr. J. EB. Gray, F.R.S. §c.] 
Dear Si1r,—It will be a matter of interest to you, and perhaps of 
surprise, to be informed that another example of Cuvier’s Ausonia 
has presented itself to us. It came among the rocks close to Fal- 
mouth, and, after a stout resistance, was safely landed. It is about 
the same size as the former example, and resembles the drawing I 
sent for comparison, but with some differences, mostly, however, as 
regards colour, which was a bright scarlet over silver, the dorsal, 
anal, and border of the tail blue. A coloured figure of it is in my 
possession, and the fish itself will be preserved at Penzance. 
It seems not a little remarkable that two examples of so rare a fish 
should run themselves ashore, at places not distant from each other, 
within comparatively so short a time. 
I am, dear Sir, 
Yours truly, 
JONATHAN Coucnu. 
Polperro, Oct. 6, 1866. 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser.3. Vol. xvui. 29 
