358 FISHES. 



and easy locomotion, protection from the above-mentioned 

 ravenous bonito and albicore that scour the surface of the 

 waters day and night, and possibly some crumbs that fall 

 from the host's jaws. The shark's part of the profit has not 

 hitherto been explained, but I am inclined to think, from 

 the examination of a number of small sharks which I caught 

 in a Queensland river, some with one or more remoras 

 attached, others without, that the fish may rid its host of 

 the parasites that bore into its hide. The sucker mth 

 which this fish attaches itself to sharks or ships is a 

 modified fin, and is situated on the back of the head. 

 Contrary to rule, the back of this fish (which passes most 

 of its life with its belly to the light) is of lighter hue than 

 the lower surface. The largest remora I ever handled 

 weighed just over 3 lbs., but one or two out of the ten 

 existing species run much larger. The power of suction 

 even in small examples is very great, and, even after death, 

 it is difficult to remove one without injury, the best way 

 being to seize it by the head, gently but firmly, and push 

 it forward. It will then slide to the edge. 



CHAPTER VI. THE CORYPHENES AND 

 THEIR ALLIES. 



The five fishes belonging to this group are of slight 

 importance, and need only be mentioned. Ray's Bream is 

 Ray's a flattened blue fish, not unlike a bream in 

 Bream, appearance, with a continuous dorsal fin and 

 a curious oblique cleft in the mouth. It is rare in our 

 waters, where, however, it has been taken to a weight of 

 over 4 lbs. In Irish waters it is known as the " Hen- 

 fish." 



