316 MR. F. DAT ON SOME BRITISH FISHES. 



Observations on some British Fishes. 

 By Francis Dat, F.L.S. 



[Read February 17, 1881.] 



During the last twelve months I have collected a few facts 

 relative to some reputed British fishes which would seem to 

 show that the usually admitted forms may be still further re- 

 duced in number. The first species I wish to allude to is one 

 which was obtained by a most indefatigable zoologist, Mr. 

 Cornish, of Penzance, who has procured so many rarities from 

 the seas of Cornwall. 



Pammelas perciformis, Mitchill. 



Rudder-fish or Perch Coryphene, Mitchill, Lit. fy Phil. Soc. New York, 

 i. pi. xvi. f. 7 (no description). Coryphsena perciformis, Mitchill, 

 Amer. Month. Mag. ii. p. 244. Trachinotus argenteus, Storer, Mass. 

 Report, p. 55 (not Cuv. 8f Val.). Palinurus perciformis, De Kay, New 

 York Fauna, Fishes, p. 118, pi. xxiv. f. 25. Pammelas perciformis, 

 Gunther, Catal. ii. p. 485. Palinurichthys perciformis, Gill, Amer. 

 Fish. Report, 1873, p. 804. Pimelepterus cornubiensis, T. Cornish, 

 Zoologist (2), ix. 18/4, p. 4255. 



Mr. Cornish has so fully described the specimen, which was 

 14J inches long, that further remarks appear to be unnecessary. 

 The fish is stuffed, and in the collection of Sir John St. Aubyu, 

 by w T hose permission Mr. Cornish kindly had a photograph 

 taken * and sent to me. The history of the capture is so re- 

 markable that I cannot resist transcribing it, as it may be open 

 to discussion, how did the fish first get into the box ? where 

 did tins take place ? how did it arrive alive and well off Cornwall ? 



On October 9th, 1874, this fish was taken about six miles oft' 

 shore by the crew of a Penzance trawler, who discovered it 

 floating as a waif on the ocean in a wooden box or case, the four 

 sides and bottom of which were perfect, but one board was torn 

 off out of the four which had originally formed the lid. The 

 captive fish was in a good state of health. 



In examining Yarrell's and Couch's Histories of British Fishes 

 the number of discrepancies among the Tunnies is remarkable. 



* Photograph exhibited at the Meeting, 



