552 



THE SUCKING FISH. 



the upper part of the body is very dark blue, and the abdomen is 

 white decorated with spots of a silvery lustre. The sides of the head 

 -are white. 



Every one has heard of the Sucking Fish, and there are few who 

 are not acquainted with the wild and fabulous tales narrated of its 

 powers. 



This little fish was reported to adhere to the bottom of ships, and to 

 arrest their progress as suddenly and firmly as if they had struck upon 

 a rock. The winds might blow, the sails might fill, and the masts creak, 

 but the unseen fish below could hold the vessel by its single force, and 

 confine her to the same spot as if at anchor. It is wonderful how fully 

 tliis fable was received, and how many, years were needed to root the 



belief out of pre- 

 ju<Uced minds. 

 Both scientific 

 names refer to 

 this so-called 

 property, Ech- 

 eneis signifying 

 *' ship - holder," 

 and rem or a mean- 

 ing "delay." 



That the Suck- 

 ing Fish is able 

 to adhere strong- 

 ly to smooth sur- 

 faces is a well- 

 known fact, the process being accomplished by means of the curious 

 shield or disc upon the upper surface of the head and shoulders, the 

 general shape of which can be understood by reference to the en- 

 graving. This disc is composed of a' number of flat bony laminae, 

 arranged parallel to each other in a manner resembling the common 

 wooden window-blind, and capable of being raised or depressed at will. 

 It IS found ])y anatomical investigation that these laminse are formed 

 by modifications of the spinous dorsal fin, the number of laminae cor- 

 responding to that of the spines. They are moved by a series of muscles 

 set obliquely, and when the fish presses the soft edge of the disc against 

 any smooth object and then depresses the laminse, a vacuum is formed, 

 causmg the fish to adhere tightly to the spot upon which the disc is 

 placed. 



When the creature has once fixed itself it cannot be detached with- 

 out niuch difiiculty, and the only method of removing it, without tear- 

 mg the h(,dy or disc, is to slide it forward in a direction corresponding 

 \vith the set of the laminse. In the opposite direction it cannot be 



The Suckinc4 Fish [Fcheneis 



