446 FISHES. 



With regard to the statement that the Pilot itself is never 

 attacked by the Shark all observers agree as to its truth ; but 

 this may be accounted for in the same way as the impunity 

 of the swallow from the hawk, the Pilot-fish lieing too nimble 

 for the unwieldy Shark. 



The Pilot-fish does not always leave tlie vessels on their 

 approach to land. In summer, when the temperature of the 

 sea-water is several degrees above the average, Pilots will 

 follow ships to the south coast of England into the har- 

 bour, where they are generally speedily caught. Pilot-fish 

 attain a length of 12 inches only. When very young 

 their appearance differs so much from the mature fish that 

 they have been described as a distinct genus, Ncmclcriis. 

 This fry is exceedingly common in the open ocean, and con- 

 stantly obtained in the tow-net; therefore the Pilot-fish 

 retains its pelagic habits also during the spawning season, 

 and some of the spawn found by voyagers floating on the 

 surface is, without doubt, derived from this species. 



Chorinemus. — Body compressed, oblong ; covered with small 

 scales, singularly shaped, lanceolate, and hidden in the skin. The 

 first dorsal is formed by free spines in small numbers ; the 

 posterior rays of the second dorsal and anal are detached finlets. 

 Small teeth in the jaws, on the vomer and palatine bones. 



Twelve species are known from the Atlantic and Indo- 

 Pacific ; some enter brackish water, whilst otliers are more 

 numerous at some distance from the shore. They attain to a 

 length of from 2 to 4 feet. In the young, which have been 

 described as Porthmeus, the spines and finlets are connected 

 by membrane witli the rest of the fin. 



Zichia is an allied genus from the Mediterranean, tropical 

 Atlantic, and the coast of Chili ; five species. 



Temnodon. — Body oblong, compressed, covered with cycloid 

 scales of moderate size. Cleft of the mouth rather wide. Jaws 

 with a series of strong teeth ; smaller ones on the vomer and 



