CHAP. xvi. MIDGES IN MORA Y FIRTH 343 



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." 



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 

 lie 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 pub- 

 lished." He also added : " As your little fish is cer- 

 tainly new, I have thought of sending an account of it 



