THE INCREDIBLE SHARKS 337 



scattering the snapping iishlets which fled a short distance and 

 hovered, hoping to catch some of the crumbs. 



Both sharks carried remoras, which is a contradiction to the 

 behef that these pecuhar parasites are not to be found when 

 two or more sharks swim together. These dropped off before 

 their hosts had time to turn and busily dug their noses into 

 the urchins. They had only a brief second, however, before 

 the nurses were back. The sharks immediately snatched up the 

 bait, giving it several hard shakes before gulping it down. The 

 spines of the urchins did not seem to bother them for they 

 devoured the pieces, spines and all. 



The remoras glided busily about in front of the nurses' 

 mouths, snatching at small fragments that they dropped, but 

 keeping alertly just out of reach. When the bait was all gone 

 except for a few crumbs, the nurses appeared tremendously 

 excited, twisting and weaving about the place where the bait 

 had been. Not finding any more they began circling and then 

 approached me, possibly attracted by the urchin scent on my 

 hands. They made me feel somewhat uncomfortable, but 

 fortified by the knowledge that they were harmless. I stood my 

 ground. The shadow of the boat seemed to cause them some 

 disquiet for they avoided it scrupulously. Twice they went 

 around, whirling in opposite directions, ogling me with their 

 tiny eyes but not venturing closer than about twelve feet. I 

 remained perfectly motionless, fascinated by their grace. Their 

 appearance was only marred by their barbels, a peculiarity of 

 the nurse sharks, one on each side of the mouth, which gave 

 them a slightly sneering and disdainful expression. At the be- 

 ginning of the third turn around I decided I had had enough of 

 their attentions and suddenly raised my arm, hoping they 

 wouldn't get an idea to eat it. With two mighty surges they 

 turned in their tracks and went bursting away into the haze. 

 As they went I could feel the rush of water from their caudal 



