94 Recreations of a Sportsman 



to find. It is one of the common fishes of south- 

 ern California waters. Sometimes in looking 

 about I have seen several in the air, falling with 

 a crash. They doubtless leap in play or are 

 annoyed by the various parasites which attack 

 them. Mr. T. McD. Potter told me that near 

 San Clemente Island he once came upon a moon- 

 fish of the largest size that was lying flat on 

 the surface, and about it was a school of yellow- 

 tails feeding on the goose barnacles and other 

 streaming parasites that infested the monster, 

 as they were darting at it, apparently biting it; 

 but that they were feeding on the parasites was 

 shown by the fact that the fish did not resent 

 the attentions, submitting to them with the same 

 indifference as does the ox, rhinoceros, and other 

 animals which allow ox-biters and other birds 

 to run over them in their search for parasites. 



My informant watched this school of yellow- 

 tails a few moments, then began to cast his sar- 

 dine bait at the moonfish. As it struck the 

 water and sank, the thirty-pounders seized it, 

 and gradually the anglers picked up four or five 

 of this finny relief corps before the fish discov- 

 ered what was really the matter. Meanwhile 

 the moonfish was lying prone upon the surface, 

 half of its body exposed to the sun; and that 

 it appreciated the situation and the service 

 the yellowtails were performing, there seemed 

 little doubt. Gulls doubtless carrv on a similar 



