THE SUCKING FISH. 47 
This little fish was reported to adhere to the bottom of ships, and to 
arrest their progress as suddenly and firmly as if they had struck upon 
a rock, The winds might blow, the sails might fill, and the masts 
creak, but the unseen fish below could hold the vessel by its single force, 
and confine her to the same spot as if at anchor. It is wonderful how fully 
this fable was received, and how many years were needed to root the belief 
out of prejudiced minds. Both scientific names refer to this so-called 
property, echenezs signifying “ship-holder,” and vewzora meaning “ delay.” 
That the Sucking Fish is able to adhere strongly to smooth surfaces is a 
well-known fact, the process being accomplished by means of the curious 
shield or disc upon the upper surface of the head and shoulders, the general 
shape of which can be understood by reference to the engraving. This disc 
is composed of a number of flat bony laminz:, arranged parallc. .o each other 
in a manner resembling the common wooden window-blind, and capable of 
being raised or depressed at will. It is found by anatomical investigation 
that these laminze are formed by modifications of the spinous dorsal fin, the 
number of laminz corre- : 
sponding to that of the 
spines. They are moved by 
a series of muscles set ob- 
liquely, and when the fish 
presses the soft edge of the 
disc against any smooth ob- 
ject and then clepresses the 
jaminze, a vacuum is formed, 
causing the fish to adhere 
tightly to the spot upon 
which the disc is placed. 
When the creature has 
once fixed itself it cannot 
be detached witheut much 
difficulty, and the only me- 
thod of removing it, without 
tearing the body or disc, is 
to slide it forwards in a di- JOHN DORY.—(Zeus faber.) 
rection corresponding with 
the set of thelamine. In the opposite direction it cannot be moved, and the 
fish, therefore, when adhering to a moving body, takes care to fix itself in such 
a manner that it cannot be washed off by the water through which it is drawn. 
Even after death, or when the disc is separated from the body. this curious 
organ can be applied to any smooth object, and will hold with tolerable firm- 
ness. In order to accommodate the disc, the upper part of the skull is 
flattened and rather widened. 
It is rather a voracious fish, and takes the hook eagerly if baited with a 
piece of raw flesh. When hooked, however, it is by no means secured, for as 
soon as it feels the prick of the sharp point and the pull of the line, it darts 
to the side of the vessel, dives deeply, and affixes itself so strongly to the 
bottom that the hook may be torn out of the mouth before the fish will relax 
its hold. It is therefore necessary to draw the Sucking Fish smartly out of 
the water as soon as it is fairly hooked, ard in this manner great numbers 
can be caught. The flesh is thought to be very good, and is said to resemble 
that of the eel, but without its richness. The colour of this species is dusky 
brown, darker on the back than on the abdomen. The fins are darker than 
the body, and are of a dense leathery consistence. The length of this fish 
seldom exceeds eight inches, 
