THE EEMOEA. 



Sl'C KING-FISH, OU KEMUUA. 



British Const, but frequents both sides of the Atlantic, and ranges throughout the Mediterranean an J 

 Black Seas. There is the same corselet of scales in this genus in the pectoral region which 

 characterises the Tunny. 



The genus Auxis is represented in British seas by a fish commonly known as the Plaia 

 Bonito (Auxis rochei). It lias but little value as food. 



The Pilot-fish (A r a iterates doctor) has a long, somewhat cylindrical body, covered with smalfc 

 scales. The spinous dorsal fin. is reduced to a few short free spines. The fish has a bluish* 

 colour, marked with five to seven vertical bars, which are dark and broad. It often follows ship for 

 weeks, or even months, and it is also said to follow large sharks ; and anecdotes have been recorded 

 which would appear to indicate that the relations between these two fishes were of a friendly character. 

 The Pilot-fish is usually about a foot long; it feeds on small fishes, and its flavour is said to be similar- 

 to that of the Mackerel. 



THE SUCKING-FISH, OR REMORA.* 



All the species of the genus Echeneis have a flat, oval disc on top of the head, which is ; 

 formed of a number of transverse plates constituting a sucking organ, by which these fishes are- 

 capable of adhering. The border of the disc is elevated, and the water is driven out by contraction of 

 the laminse. The attachment, when once made, often continues after death. These fishes are browr* 

 in colour, occur in nearly all temperate and tropical seas, especially in the Pacific and East Indies.. 

 The Remora attaches itself to sharks, whales, or ships, and is carried by them for great distances. 

 It is rarely met with in the British seas ; its length is about four inches and a half. The sucking- 

 disc has a cavity for its reception excavated in the upper part of the skull. 



Another well-known species is the Echeneis naucrates, specimens of which in the British Museunv 

 have a length of thirty-two inches. The suctorial disc is formed of from twenty-one' to twenty-five 

 lamina? ; there are fourteen vertebrae in the abdomen and sixteen in the tail. The latter vertebrae- 

 are compressed and elongated. 



* JZrkenci<t rcmora. 



