GEN. NAUCRATES. THE PILOT-FISH. 209 



was of a fine purplish black ; on a side view, the 

 bands scarcely reached above the lateral line; the 

 iris, instead of being of a golden yellow, was a fine 

 deep brown, and the extreme points of the pecto- 

 rals, ventrals, and tail, were white and transparent. 

 These, then, are probably the true markings. Dr. 

 Moore adds : " In a day or two, however, as the 

 colours faded, the beautiful metallic blue of the ab- 

 domen turned to a dull iron-grey, the bands became 

 easily distinguishable all round the fish, and the 

 brown -coloured pigment of the iris gradually con- 

 tracted, leaving beneath a shining yellow circle." 



Dr. Moore states that he considers the Pilot, of 

 all Mediterranean species, the most frequent visitor 

 on the coast of Devonshire. Many are the in- 

 stances now collected of their following ships into 

 British ports. " In January 1831," says Mr. Yar- 

 rell, " The Peru put into Plymouth, on her voyage 

 from Alexandria to London, after a passage of eighty- 

 two days. About two days after she left Alex- 

 andria, two Pilot-fish made their appearance close 

 alongside the vessel, were constantly seen near her 

 during the voyage, and followed her into Plymouth. 

 After she came to an anchor in Catwater, their at- 

 tachment appeared to have increased; they kept 

 constant guard to the vessel, and made themselves 

 so familiar, that one of them was actually captured 

 by a gentleman in a boat alongside ; but, by a 

 strong effort, it escaped from his grasp and regained 

 the water. After this the two fish departed, but 

 they were taken the same evening ; and when 



