79 



considered as coarse and of an ill flavour. The 

 gall was anciently considered as of peculiar effi- 

 cacy in external disorders of the eyes. 



THE REMORA, OR SUCKING-FISH. 



This fish resembles the herring ; his head is 

 thick, naked, depressed, and marked on the 

 upper side with transverse rough lines. The fins 

 are seven in number; the under jaw is longer 

 than the upper, and both furnished with teeth ^ 

 He is provided by nature with a strong adhesive 

 power, and, by means of the strife on his head, 

 attaches himself to any animal, or body what- 

 ever. A small fish with seven acting fins, armed 

 like a galley with oars, we might suppose to 

 have a great power of motion in the water, but, 

 by some reason unknown to us, Providence has 

 contrived for him an easier way of travelling, by 

 fixing himself to the hulk or sides of ships, and 

 even to the body of larger animals than himself, 

 as the whale, the shark, and others. Now is it 

 probable that so small, so weak a creature, 

 should have might enough to retard the fast 

 steering of a man of war, frigate, or even a 

 boat, sailing on the smooth surface of the liquid 



