| AdminHistory | Jonathan Couch (1789 - 1870) was a British naturalist.
Couch was born on 15 March 1789 to Richard and Philippa Couch in Polperro, Cornwall. He received a classical education and worked with local medical men, before entering Guy's and St. Thomas's hospital in 1808. He returned to Polperro and worked there as the doctor until his death in 1870.
Couch was a keen natural historian, with a particular interest in ichthyology (the study of fishes) and he gathered a large number of fish specimens, using local fishermen to assist him. He wrote a number of publications, including 'Cornish Fauna', and 'A History of the Fishes of the British Islands', with coloured illustrations from his own drawings, (4 vols., London, 1860-65). He was married three times and had 11 children. He died on 13 April 1870. |
| Description | This volume comprises the draft manuscript of Jonathan Couch's publication 'A History of the Fishes of the British Islands' 1862-65. The draft titled 'A natural History of the Fishes of the United Kingdom; with a particular reference to the Fisheries' includes a catalogue of British fishes and eighteen illustrations (sixteen of which are inserts). At the front of the volume there is a note signed Jonathan Couch, which reads "This volume was employed by W. Yarrell in the Composition of his History of British Fishes: being the same that is quoted in that work, by the name of Couch's M.S."
Section headings include:
- Bony fishes (ff.5-120)
- Trunkfishes (ff.121-122)
- Pipefishes (ff.123-125)
- Sturgeons (ff.126-127)
- Sharks (ff.128-155)
- Lampreys (ff.156-161)
- Whales (ff.162-170)
- Nets used for fishing in Cornwall (ff.137-138)
- Baits used in Cornwall (ff.139-140)
List of Illustrations:
1. Pencil drawing of Polperro harbour. Inscription reads "Left of the entrance of Polperro harbour". (Between title page and Introduction).
2. Black ink drawing of a fishing boat. Inscription reads "Fishing Boat of the East of Cornwall, under sail. The Rig is very simple, taken in almost instantly, in case of a squall; & is well adapted to beat the Boat to windward, or thro' intricate navigation". Also small black ink drawing of a fishing hook of which the inscription reads "grapnel for mooring Boats". (Between title page and Introduction).
3. Black ink drawing of a fishing boat. Inscription reads "Pilchard Seas Boat Under Sail". (Between title page and Introduction).
4. Black ink drawing of fishing boats and fishermen. Inscription reads "Shooting the Pilchard seas". Also a small blank ink drawing of [an instrument used in sinking fishing lines?] Inscription reads: "Form of the lead usd to sink fishing lines: weight from ½ pound to 15 pounds". (Between title page and Introduction).
5. Pencil drawing of a [Muraena Helena]. Inscription reads "Murana Helena". Also a pencil drawing of a Shark. Inscription reads "This figure of a Shark is judged by Mr Garrell to resemble of the Fauna Italica = see the large Drawing - but it is not inserted in the British Fishes". (Between ff.7-8).
6. Pencil drawing of a [Longnose fish]. (Between ff.15-16).
7. Black ink drawing of apparatus used for fishing Mackerel. (Between ff.17-18).
8. Pencil drawing of a White Trout and Blennius fish and on the reverse a Bonito fish. (Between ff.21-22).
9. Loose insert of a pencil drawing of a Sea Trout and Bull Trout. (Between ff.26-27).
10. Coloured illustration of a Wrasse, [Labrus] Tinca. (Between ff.71-72).
11. Loose insert of a coloured illustration of a Corkwing Wrasse. (Between ff.72-73).
12. Coloured illustration of a Labrus Julis and Perca Inermis. (Between ff.76-77).
13. Two coloured illustrations of Goldsinny, Labrus Cornubiensis. (Between ff.77-78).
14. Pencil drawing of a Raniceps. Inscription reads "all the fins mutilated by crabs". (Between ff.110-111).
15. Pencil drawing of a Rock Goby. (Between ff.116-117).
16. Pencil drawing of a [snake pipefish]. Inscription reads "aequoreus". (Between ff.123-124).
17. Small pencil drawing of a young [Raja montagui] (f.135).
18. Small black ink drawing of a fishing hook under the section heading 'Baits used in Cornwall' (f.140).
At the end of the volume there is a paper entitled 'Of some Cornish Species of the Genus Labrus' by Jonathan Couch F.L.S, with annotations "Read" and "No. 665" written at the top of the page, indicating that the paper was read at a Linnean Society meeting. |