108 PILOT FISH. 



^Elian informs us, b. ii, c. 15, that the Pominlus, or Pilot 

 Fish, hated any approach to the land, and on that account was 

 considered sacred to Neptune, the god of the ocean, which 

 rendered it safe from any designed injury; and this in common 

 belief was confirmed by the circumstance, that a man who had 

 ventured to make a meal of it, soon afterwards had the mis- 

 fortune to lose his son by drowning. But the origin of the 

 name, and what caused these fishes to be mistaken for each 

 other was, that both of them were supposed to be actuated by 

 a friendly feeling towards sailors, as was shewn in their gambols 

 at the sight of the "human face divine." They, therefore, gladly 

 drew near a ship when they descried it on the open ocean, 

 and kept close to it in all its voyages, so as not to be driven 

 away even by any show of violence. It was only when the ship 

 drew near the land that this fish was prepared to leave it; 

 which propensity was of the utmost importance to the unskilful 

 sailors of that day, who thus received the Avarning of their close 

 approach to land, which otherwise they would not have dis- 

 covered. Ovid refers to what was in his time perhaps the only 

 fact that he had heard or believed of this tradition: — 



"Aud thou companion of the swift-winged ship, 

 Its constant frieud o'er all the foaming deep." 



And Pliny notices the same habit, but of which he knew so 

 little as to confound the subject of it with the Tunny, and 

 even the Nautilus; but it is in Oppian that we find the full 

 particulars of the popular belief; b. i. — 



"He the deep seas prefers to noisy straits, 

 Who for the distant ship impatient waits, 

 The friendly Pilot Fish, who gladly views 

 The well-rigged bark, and every sail pursues. 

 Eound it the wanton shoals in order move. 

 And frisking, gaze on him who steers above: 

 Eager press on, nor will be left behind. 

 Though the full sails swell bloated with the wind.— 

 Thus they, while no approaching shores displease, 

 Swim with the ship tumultuous o'er the seas. 

 But when they conscious scent the coming shore, 

 Averse they court the sailor's look no more; 

 Avoid the nearer land, and hie again 

 AVitli equal haste to the unbounded main. 

 I'ilols observe the sign, and know the coast 

 Draws nigh when they perceive their comrades lost." 



