OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 33 



only irregular wanderers to our shores, are the Long-finned 

 Tunny (Orcynus germd), No. 37 ; the Bonito {Thynnus 

 pelamys), No. 38 ; the Short- finned Tunny or Pelamid 

 (Pelamys sardd), No. 39; and the Plain Bonito (Atixis 

 rochei), No. 40. Young examples of the greater number of 

 these species will be found among the spirit series in 

 the Day Collection. A remaining very remarkable fish, 

 referred by most authorities to the Scombridcz, but which 

 possesses but few points in common with the typical 

 Mackerels, is that species of sucking-fish known as the 

 Common Remora (Echeneis remora), No. 41. This fish 

 differs from the sucking-fishes belonging to the family 

 Discoboli in that the adhesive organ or acetabulum is 



FIG. 8. — SUCKING-FISH {Echeneis remora). 



developed dorsally, immediately on the crown of the head, 

 instead of upon the ventral surface of the body, being, 

 indeed, a peculiar modification of the anterior dorsal fin. 

 The habits of the Remora are very singular, it not being a 

 free roving fish, but always found in company with larger 

 species, such as members of the Shark tribe, to which they 

 affix themselves by their dorsal sucker, swimming off momen- 

 tarily to obtain food, and returning again to the shelter of 

 their selected hosts. In like manner these fish will also 

 attach themselves to vessels, sometimes to the number of 

 several hundreds, finding an abundant supply of food 

 in the kitchen grease and garbage of an even less savoury 

 description that is more or less continually thrown 

 overboard. From the classic days of Ovid and Pliny, to 



D 



