264 



LOWER VERTEBRATES. 



of his companions, and, as rendered in Ogilby's " America," published in 1671, is as 

 follows : — 



" Columbus from hence [that is, Cuba], proceeding on further Westward, dis- 

 cover'd a fruitful Coast, verging the Mouth of a Kiver, whose Water runs Boyling 

 into the Sea. Somewhat further he saw very strange Fishes, especially of the 

 Guaiccm, not unlike an Eel, but with an extraordinary great Head, over which hangs a 

 skin like a bag. This Fish is the Natives Fisher, for having a Line or handsom Cord 

 fastned about him, so soon as a Turtel, or any other of his Prey, comes above Water, 

 they give him Line ; whereupon the Guaican, like an Arrow out of a Bowe, shoots 

 towards the other Fish, and then gathering the Mouth of the Bag on his Head like a 

 Purse-net, holds them so fast that he lets not loose till hal'd up out of the Water." 



Fig. 149. — Rtmora remora, suck-fish. 



The old chronicler had evidently never seen a " Guiacan," but there can be no 

 doubt what was meant, and the name used was that given by the Indians of Cuba to 

 JScheneis neucrates. From the time of Columbus we can pass to our immediate 

 present. 



In 1884 an account was given of the mode of fishing adopted on the Zanzibar 

 coast by the Africans with the reraora. The account is by Mr. Frederick Holmwood, 

 the British consul at Zanzibar. It seems that the Africans fix a ring around the 

 most slender part of the tail, which remains on for an indefinite period, — sometimes 

 for years, — becoming imbedded in the flesh ; to this ring the line is attached, and the 

 fish are taken by the Africans on their cruises, which last for a number of days, and 

 slipped loose into the water when wanted ; they then swim towards their destined 



