Fishes. 2993 



from the place where I fixed myself, and by so doing, rendered it ex- 

 ceedingly difficult to secure a single one. I succeeded at last by 

 concealing myself behind a projecting ledge, and making a sudden 

 dip with the net in a direction opposed to their course. 



These fishes were all of one size, about three inches long, and much 

 resembling the common atherine ; but they are distinguished by a 

 proportionably larger eye, and a somewhat different arrangement of 

 the fins. They are well described and figured in the ' History of 

 Fishes,' by Cuvier and Valenciennes ; for access to which, I am in- 

 debted to my friend Mr. Yarrell, to whom I had the pleasure of pre- 

 senting the specimens I obtained. It appears that this fish is not 

 uncommon in the Mediterranean ; but although I have watched for 

 them attentively for three subsequent years, I have not seen them 

 since the date above given. 



Jonathan Couch. 



Polperro, December, 1850. 



Remarks on a Fossil Fish of the Old Red Sandstone of Gamrie. 

 By the Rev. James Smith. 



I have often felt amazement, and even awe, from the fact that thou- 

 sands of years before the creation of man, the Almighty had already 

 prepared a succession of volumes, so to speak, from which, at a certain 

 stage in the progressive advances of his race, man might be enabled 

 to ascertain what had been the proceedings of his Maker, and what 

 kinds and varieties of animals had from time to time been formed by 

 him, on this our planet, during the unnumbered succession of ages 

 through which, we can now see, it must have passed before it became 

 the abode of rational and accountable beings. These volumes were 

 carefully laid up in the most secure and befitting recesses. Their 

 leaves were of stone ; and the illustrations which they contained, were 

 of the most finished and beautiful description. Unlike what takes 

 place in the delineations of a human pencil, the animals themselves 

 drew individually the outline, and furnished the tints, by which their 

 portrait was to be produced in the most enduring and characteristic 

 manner. These portraits were intended to form a subject of study to 

 man ; but it is remarkable, that they were nevertheless to remain un- 

 known to him till after he had been no fewer than six thousand years 

 in the world. During that lengthened period, not one of his race was 

 IX. D 



