34 
A COENISH FAUNA. 
named has hut to refer to the index in the fourth volume of the 
book, and he will there find out where to read of it. 
There is one difficulty connected with the detailing of a list of 
British fishes observed in Cornwall to which I must call attention. 
Of course we score everything as of Cornwall which we actually 
catch on the Cornish coast, and if a specimen occurs in Plymouth 
harbour (as of the hij>pocampus) we may fairly claim it as 
occurring in the Cornish seas , but we frequently obtain rare 
specimens from the stomach of a cod (which fish some one has 
wittily termed the “ naturalists’ purveyor,”) or rare fish are taken 
in the Bristol channel (surely a Cornish sea), off the Welsh 
coast, or are landed by some captain of a ship who has procured 
them on his voyage home (as for instance, “ Eemora ” from the 
Bay of Biscay), or they are taken by our driving boats many 
leagues south and west of the Scilly islands. Are these speci- 
mens Cornish fish ? They present themselves in our museums, 
and on the whole I am inclined to give them rank as Cornish 
fishes. We are, I think, entitled from our promontorial position 
to regard as our own all fish which come within the sweep of our 
fishermen, or of vessels landing them in fresh condition on our 
shores. 
PJERCIJ)^. — (Tub Peech Kind). 
Perch. {Perea Fluviatilis). A freshwater fish ; not an aborigine 
of Cornwall, but naturalised in many ponds. 
Basse. fLalrax LupmJ. Common in harbours, in sandy bays, 
and on a lee shore in rough weather. Weighs on an aver- 
age 8 lbs. 
. Smooth Serranus. fSerranus CabrillaJ. Comber. West of the 
Lizard it is known as the “ Loe fish not uncommon ; 
usually dies with its mouth wide open. 
Dusky Serranus {Serrmim gigas). Dusky perch. A mediter- 
ranean fish of very rare occurrence. 
Stone Basse {Serranus Couchii). The term "stone basse” is 
applied in Cornwall to at least three distinct fish. This fish 
is not a basse at all, but a serranus. The only known speci- 
men of it was observed by Mr. Couch, and it worthily bears 
his name. It is also known as “ Couch’s Tolyprion.” 
Squirrel fish. fJPoeMulou ForniosumJ. Mr. Couch in his Pauna 
says ‘ It is a native of the West Indies. One specimen has 
