GEN. NAUCRATES. THE PILOT-FISH. 207 



wake of the vessel, his dorsal fin being long dis- 

 tinctly visible above the water. When he had gone, 

 however, a considerable distance, he suddenly turned 

 round, darted towards the vessel, and before the 

 Pilot-fish could overtake him and interpose, snapped 

 at the bait and w T as taken. In hoisting him on 

 board, one of the Pilot-fish was observed to cling to 

 his side until he was half above water, when it fell 

 off. All the Pilots then swam about a while, as if 

 in search of their friend, with every apparent mark 

 of anxiety, and then darted suddenly into the depths 

 of the sea." It may be imagined by some that in 

 this case the fancy of the narrator gives a colouring 

 to the facts ; but the Colonel expresses his complete 

 belief of the whole, having himself watched with 

 intense curiosity an event in all respects precisely 

 similar. (Grif. Cuv., x. 636), 



That the Pilot appears to have a deep interest in 

 his formidable associate, admits not of a doubt, 

 although perhaps his service is not always so judi- 

 cious as in the instances just alluded to. Dr. Mayen, 

 in a recent publication, remarks, " We ourselves 

 have seen three instances in which the Shark was 

 led by the Pilot. When the former neared the 

 ship, the latter swam close to his snout, or near 

 one of his breast fins ; sometimes it darted rapidly 

 forwards or sideways, as if looking for something, 

 and constantly went back again to the Shark. 

 When we threw overboard a piece of bacon fast- 

 ened on a great hook, the Shark was about twenty 

 paces from the ship ; with the quickness of light- 



