PILOT-FISH. 445 



latter was of great use to its big companion in conducting it 

 and showing it the way to its food. Dr. Meyen in his " Eeise 

 uni die Erde " states : " The pilot SM'ims constantly in front 

 of the Shark; we ourselves have seen three instances in 

 which the Shark was led by the Pilot, When the Shark 

 neared the ship the Pilot swam close to" the snout, or near 

 one of the pectoral fins of the animal. Sometimes he darted 

 rapidly forwards or sidewards as if looking for something, and 

 constantly went back again to the Shark. When we threw 

 overboard a piece of bacon fastened on a great hook, the 

 Shark was about twenty paces from the ship. With the 

 quickness of lightning the Pilot came up, smelt at the dainty, 

 and instantly swam back again to the Shark, swimming many 

 times round his snout and splashing, as if to give him exact 

 information as to the bacon. The Shark now began to put 

 himself in motion, the Pilot showing him the way, and in a 

 moment he was fast upon the hook.^ Upon a later occasion 

 we observed two Pilots in sedulous attendance on a Blue 

 Shark, which we caught in the Chinese Sea. It seems probable 

 that the Pilot feeds on the Sharks' excrements, keeps his com- 

 pany for that purpose, and directs his operations solely from 

 this selfish view." We believe that Dr. Meyen's opinion, as 

 expressed in his last words, is perfectly correct. The Pilot 

 obtains a great part of his food directly from the Shark, in 

 feeding on the parasitic crustaceans with which Sharks and 

 other large fish are infested, and on the smaller pieces of flesh 

 which are left unnoticed by the Shark when it tears its prey. 

 The Pilot also, being a small fish, obtains greater security when 

 in company of a Shark, which would keep at a distance all 

 other fishes of prey that would be likely to prove dangerous 

 to the Pilot. Therefore, in accompanying the Shark, the 

 Pilot is led by the same instinct which makes it follow a ship. 



^ In tliis instance, one may entertain reasonable doubts as to the usefulness 

 of the Pilot to the Shark. 



