448 



VEliTEBRATA, 



TBK REUORA. 



tile fish is altoicotluT jjrDtostjUO. It lias a cup-sliapod sucker, fnini.d of lliv ventral fins, by which 

 it will adhere so firmlv to a stone or other substance in the water, that it is difficult for a man to 

 pull it uit. It feeds on jelly-fishes, and is itself a favorite repast for seals. It is found in the 

 Northern European and American waters. There are several other species. 



Cftntis ECllKN'l'^l!~> : Kcheiicis. — This ineludeslhe Remora or Sucking-Fish, E. rcmora : it is 



about a foot lon^, and is provided with 

 a j)owerfnl sucker on the top of its head, 

 by which it attaches itself to rocks, 

 ships, and even large fishes. In ancient 

 times it was believed that the Rcmora 

 had the power of arresting the largest 

 ship in her course, and among other tales of the kind, we arc told that in the famous battle of 

 Actiuiii, Antony's ship was held motionless by one of these fishes, notwithstanding the utmost 

 exertions of several luuulred sailors to row it forward. Found in European and North xVniciican 

 waters ; most common in the Mediterranean. 



TIr' White-tailed Remora, E. alhicauda, is sixteen inches long, and is frequently found 



attached to sharks, whence it is called the 

 Shark- Sucker. It is occasionally taken 

 on the shores of Long Island. The Indian 

 Remora, E. naucrates, is two to three feet 

 long ; found on the North American coasts. 

 Genus LIPARIS: Z?>om.— To this 

 belongs the Sea-Snail or Unctuous 

 Sucker, L. vulgaris, four inches long; 

 found in the European seas. Montagu's Sucking-Fish, L. Montar/ui, is three inches long; 

 found on the British coasts. 



Genus CALLIONYMUS : Callionymus. — This includes the Gemmeous Dragonet, C. lyra, ten 



to fourteen inches long; it has 



a smooth skin, brilliantly striped 



and spotted with blue on a yel- 



^?^.v low ground. It occasionally 



-c^ takes a bait, but is more fre- 



^: quently caught in nets. Its flesh 



is good. It is found on the 



European coasts; in England it 



is called the Yellow Sculpin,and 



in Scotland the Gotodie. The 



THE GEMMEOUS DRAGONET. o^, -r\ /l J 



boRDiD Dragonet, C. dracun- 

 culuSy is nine to ten inches long. Found in European waters. 



THE SEA-SNAIL. 



THE BLENNIID^. 



Genus ANARRHICAS : Anarrhicas. — To this belongs the Sea-Wolf, A. lupus, three to seven 



feet long, agreeing with the ffobics in 



the absence of the air-bladder ; the dor- 

 sal fin is very long, the pectoral fin 

 large ; the mouth large and armed with 

 enormous acute fangs. It feeds on 

 molluscous animals, and easily crushes 

 their shells with its powerful teeth. It 

 is sometimes taken in nets, but makes 

 a desperate resistance. Its flesh is good, and being abundant in Iceland, it is of great importance 

 to the inhabitants ; the flesh is salted by them ; the liver is used instead of soap, and the skin is 

 made into shagreen for bags and pouches. In England, as well as in this country, it is called 

 Sea-Cat and Wolf-Fish; common on the European and American coasts. 



THE SEA-WOLF. 



