^Iic f^«t£ Mv. Jonatlmrt Qloxxdx, 



It is with regret ;-we record the death of Mr. Jonathan Couch, of 

 Polperro, F.L.S., Corr. Mem. Z. S., &c., on the 13th April instant, in 

 the 82nd year of his age ; and we feel assured that all friends and sup- 

 porters of the Royal Institution of Cornwall will concur in expressions 

 of affectionate regard for the memory, and lasting gratitude for the ser- 

 vices, of one of the most distinguished of its members. Throughout, 

 we believe, nearly the whole period of its past existence, he was a 

 liberal and most valued contributor to its literature and its museum, in 

 their departments of Natural History and Antiquities ; and as long 

 since as the year 1835, in a Eeport which reviewed the progress of the 

 Institution from its establishment in 1818, we find the Council bearing 

 the following testimony to his ability and zeal in promoting its 

 objects : 



" From Mr. Couch of Polperro, the distinguished Ichthyologist and 

 " Naturalist, whose indefatigable zeal in the study of the Nati;ral History 

 "of this County has rendered his name illustrious in the scientific world, 

 " in addition to some interesting presents, we have received a valuable 

 " outline of the Fauna of the County, accompanied by some suggestions 

 "respecting the further prosecution of those studies in which he is 

 " most interested, and for the promotion of which this Society was 

 " principally established, which deserve consideration. The essential 

 "point from which the others spring is, printing a Catalogue Raisonne 

 " of the Natural History of the County in all its branches, ^particularly 

 " distinguishing those objects, of which siDecimens are in our collection, 

 "and accompanied by remarks on those which present any peculiar 

 " features." 



In subsequent years we find him still actively co-operating in aid of 

 these purposes ; and that, not only as "a distinguished Ichthyologist 

 and Naturalist," . but also as an Inquirer into subjects connected with 

 Cornish Archseology and Antiquities ; his various communications 

 evincing careful observation, with accuracy in description and delinea- 

 tion. His most important labour in connection with this Institution, 

 and that which perhaps more than all else linked his local with his uni- 

 versal fame, was in relation to the work which appears to have been 

 forthshadowed in the extract we have cited, viz : " The Cornish Fauna ; 

 a Compendium of the Natural History of the County." Of this com- 

 prehensive work, published by the Institution, Mr. Jonathan Couch pre- 

 pared Parts I and II, containing the Vertebrate, Crustacean, and part of 

 the Piadiate Animals, and Shells " ; a " Third Part, containing the 

 Zoophytes and Calcareous Corallines," being added by his eldest son 

 (since deceased) ,^Ir. Pi. Q. Couch, who, inheriting his father's love for 

 natural science, followed the paternal example of zealous industry in 

 the acquirement and communication of scientific knowledge. Mr. 

 Jonathan Couch was also a contributor to the Koyal Cornwall Polytechnic 

 Society and the Geological Society of Cornwall ; his communications to 

 the former Society including " A Treatise on the Natural History of the 



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