The Fate to Purvey foe Others. 



427 



cases like that which we quote from Cuvier, respecting the 

 habits of this fish, might be given. 



With the ancients, however, as described by their poets, 

 this little fish was the faithful companion of the whale in- 

 stead of the shark ; and Oppian thus alludes to the services 

 which these pigmy pilots render to their unwieldy' associates : 



" Bold in the front the little pilot glides, 

 Averts each danger, every motion guides ; 

 With grateful joy the willing whales attend, 

 Observe the leader, and revere the friend. 

 Where'er the little guardian leads the way, 

 The bulky tyrants doubt not to obey, 

 Implicit trust repose in him alone. 

 And hear and see with senses not their own.'' 



When, and on what grounds, the misunderstanding of the 

 pilot with his " fat friend" took place, history fails to inform 

 us ; but that he is now the ally of the dreaded shark, which 

 he escorts in safety through every sea, is matter of general 

 notoriety and almost daily observation. 



In addition to the foregoing spike or spine rayed fishes, 

 many others of them among the food-fishes and those for the 

 angle will be found described in another part of the book, 

 under the names of the fishes. 



The Boach and the Dace. 



