298 Edward’s Midge. [cHAP. XVI. 
fish themselves, as from the want of searchers for these 
things ; for we can not allow ourselves to think for a single 
moment that they could be found in so widely distant lo- 
calities 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 tmpossibilities. 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 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, Mon- 
tagu’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.” 
EDWARD'S MIpgE—Couchia Edwardii. 
Mr. Couch accordingly prepared a paper for the Linnwan 
Society,* in which he embodied Edward’s description af 
the fish, and of its habits and habitat. He also attached to 
it the name of Edward’s Midge, Couchia Edward. In the 
course of Mr. Couch’s paper he says: 
* Linnean Society's Journal ; “ Zoology,” vol. ix., p. 38. 
