SUCKING-FISH AND BERGYLT. 183 



Echeneis naucrates, 806, is closely allied to the Remora, but is 

 more slender and has a relatively longer tail, and more fin-rays in 

 the anal fin. In the Torres Strait the natives employ the Echeneis 

 naucrates, or Gapu, as they call it, for catching Turtles. The fish 

 is kept alive in water in the bottom of the canoe a thin string 

 being fastened round its tail and through its gills. On a turtle 

 being sighted in the vicinity of the canoe the Gapu is thrown 

 out towards it ; the fish immediately swims to and fastens upon the 

 carapace. If the turtle is of small size it is hauled in by the line, 

 the fish retaining its tenacious hold, but if it be a large one a native 

 jumps overboard with a stronger line, and following the course of 

 the fine line arrives at the turtle and securely ties it by the stronger 

 rope, returns to the canoe and tows his captive to land. 



Trigliformes (Gurnards). 



The fishes of the division Trigliformes have an "armoured 

 cheek " ; the second suborbital bone is produced towards or fused 

 with the pre-opercular bone and forms what is known as a "sub- 

 orbital stay/' The pelvic fins are thoracic in position. The 

 division includes comparatively simple Perch-like forms such as 

 Sebastes and aberrant forms such as the Gurnards, with fully 

 armoured head, the Flying Gurnards, with enlarged pectoral fins, 

 and the Lump-suckers, with pelvic fins forming a sucking- 

 disc. 



In the family Scorpsenidae the head is usually provided with Scorpae- 

 spines, but is not completely cuirassed. The spinous dorsal fin is 

 strongly developed and is usually longer than the soft dorsal fin ; 

 the anal fin usually has three spines. The fishes included in this 

 family are carnivorous and marine and of wide distribution. 

 Species of Sebastes and of allied genera are used as food. The 

 dorsal fins of some, such as Scorpcena, Pterois, Synanceia, 

 are provided with poison glands, and can inflict dangerous 

 wounds. 



The Bergylt, Sebastes norvegicus, 812, called by some fish- Bergylt. 

 mongers the ' Soldier ' on account of its bright red colour, is a fish 

 confined to northern seas, such as those of Norway and Iceland ; 



