210 INDIAN REMORA. 



mals, on the surface of the water, they approach 

 as near as possible without disturbing it ; and 

 then, throwing the Remora into the sea, and 

 giving it the proper length of cord, it soon at- 

 taches itself to the breast of the sleeping turtle, 

 which is thus easily drawn to the boat by the 

 fishermen. If we may depend on the accuracy 

 of this description, it seems to give some degree 

 of confirmation to a mode of fishing recorded by 

 Aldrovandus and others, in which a fish of a very 

 unusual form, and which seems to be not very dis- 

 tinctly described, is said to be employed in a 

 similar manner by the American Indians, and 

 to be naturally furnished with a large pouch at its 

 head, with which it seizes and draws up its prey. 



This species is said to arrive at a much larger 

 size than the preceding; being found of the 

 length of two or three feet, and even, according 

 to a description quoted by Dr. Bloch, to that of 

 seven feet. The usual number of divisions on its 

 shield is from twenty-two to twenty-four. 



