FREE MESSMATES. 11 



morsels abandoned by it. Neither of these suppositions 

 is correct ; and as the shark does not need its services to 

 point out the danger, we must content om'selves with 

 mentioning this curious association without endeavour- 

 ing to, explain it. 



In fact, we have had the opportunity of examining 

 many well-preserved specimens, the stomach of which 

 contained potato parings, the carapaces of crustaceans, 

 the debris of fishes, marine plants (fuci), and a piece of 

 cut fish, which had evidently served as a bait. The pilot 

 does not, therefore, live on the leavings of his companion, 

 but on his own industry, and doubtless finds some advan- 

 tage in piloting his neighbour. Through the great 

 kindness of Dr. Gunther we have been able to make 

 this interesting examination in the rich galleries of the 

 British Museum. We desire to take this opportunity of 

 expressing our gratitude to this learned man and to his 

 illustrious colleagues, who have the direction of that vast 

 establishment, which is ever open to those who labour 

 for the advancement of science. 



The pilot has sometimes been confounded with a very 

 different fish, which does not merelv remain in the neif^h- 

 bourhood of the shark, but establishes itself upon him, 

 and moors himself to him by the aid of a particular 

 apparatus, for a longer or shorter time; we may even 

 say during the whole of the voyage. This is the Eemora. 



Is this fish the messmate of the shark to which he is 

 attached ? As in the case of the pilot, an examination 

 alone could decide the question. We have opened at the 

 British Museum the stomachs of several remoras of 

 different sizes, and we have been able to ascertain that 

 they also fish on their own account ; their food was 



