HABITS OF THE PILOT-FISH. 273 



accomplished observer narrates an interesting anecdote of a shark being continually 

 warned of a baited hook by his little friends, who struck their noses agairst his snout 

 whenever he turned towards the bait. At last, however, he dashed at the tempting 

 morsel and was captured, to the sorrow of the Pilot-fishes, who swam about for some 

 time in search of their friend, and then darted down into the depths of the sea. 



Mr. Bennett, in the work to which allusion has lately been made, has some very 

 curious and interesting observations on this fish, -which must be given in his owu 

 words : 



PILOT-FISH. Kaitcrates duoiur. 



" Pilot-fish are almost invariably found in attendance upon the shark, though the 

 nature of their connexion with that ferocious fish is somewhat mysterious. They will 

 accompany ships for a considerable distance after their patron shark has been destroyed ; 

 but I am not aware that they have ever been seen, like the remora, attending upon other 

 large fish, whales, or miscellaneous floating bodies. The structure of their mouth and the 

 contents of their stomach, which are usually small fish, denote that they are accustomed 

 to seek their food in a very independent manner. We captured many of them also 

 by hook and line, baited with flesh ; nor did they refuse the bait even when they were in 

 company with a shark. 



The reputation this fish has obtained of being the shark's pilot or provide* (and which 

 has sanctioned its trivial name) would appear to be groundless, were we guided only by 

 the want of similar precedents in the animal kingdom. A fact, however, which came 

 under my notice during a voyage from India, in the year 1832, led me to believe that 

 there is some just foundation for this popular opinion. 



While we were becalmed in the Atlantic Ocean, a shark was seen close to the ship, 

 and attended by two Pilot-fish, which generally swam onp above and the other below 

 him, and occasionally went off to some distance, as if t& explore the surrounding sea, 

 although it was seldom long before they returned and resumed their former positions ; 

 the shark, in the meantime, by its unwieldy form, slow movements, and lethargic aspect, 

 offered a strong contrast to the sprightliness and activity of his scouts. 



A baited hook was lowered from the bow of the ship ; but the shark, when alone, 

 passed it several times without notice, and apparently without seeing it. One of the 

 foraging Pilot-fish then approached the bait, and immediately swam off to where the 

 shark was headed in a contrary direction, when the monster instantly turned, and 

 followed his informant, which now swam ahead of him, in a direct line towards the 

 3. 



