FISHES. 273 



Some perfectly white Remorae which we noticed, both 

 adhering to a shark and swimming by its side, in 

 company with others of the normal black hue, would 

 sanction the belief that this species is liable to an 

 albino variety. 



It often happened, after whales or sharks had been 

 destroyed, that the Tuscan was attended by Sucking- 

 fish for several successive weeks. Great numbers of 

 them were taken by hook and line, baited with flesh. 

 They take a fe still bait" readily ; but some tact is re- 

 quired to draw them out of the water, as the instant 

 they are hooked, they will sometimes fix themselves 

 by their sucker to the keel of the ship, and defy every 

 attempt to complete their capture. 



AUSTRALASIAN REMORA. 

 (Echeneis Australis.J 



This species exceeds the former in size. One in- 

 dividual we captured, and which was by no means the 

 largest we observed, measured one foot five inches in 

 length, and was proportionately broad. Of three 

 examples, one only had 24 strise on the buckler, the 

 other two had 26. Branchiostegous rays 10. Pectoral 

 more than 20. Dorsal 21. Ventral 5. Anal 24. 

 Caudal 20. 



This fish has a more symmetrically-formed body 

 than E. Remora, and its movements in the water are 

 rapid and active. The sclerotic coat of the eye, both 

 of this and the former species, is composed of two 

 hemispherical bones, as perfect and much thicker than 

 the bony sclerotic of the shark. Some examples, which 

 we captured by hook and line, were cooked for the 

 table. In flavour and solidity they resemble the eel ; 

 but have not the oily richness of that fish. 



VOL. II. T 



