Marvels of the Universe 



319 



handicapped by weakness or inferioritj- of any organ ; who has deHberately, and apparently of malice 

 aforethought, chosen to Jive upon the energies of others, to expend the minimum of effort to obtain 

 that sustenance which is imperatively necessary for his support. 



To the attainment of this much desired end the Sucking Fish in all its varieties has devoted all 

 its energies until now its equipment for the purpose is perfect. The top of its head is fiat and oval 

 in plan, while upon it is formed a strangely conventional apparatus which is an efficient sucker, 

 though it looks more hke a piece of regularly designed grating than anything else, or perhaps the 

 sole of a tennis-shoe. AH the other organs of the fish are normal ; indeed, it is rather better equipped 

 for swimming than man}- fish. 



Its procedure in the furtherance of its desires is to attach itself bj- means of this arrangement 

 on top of its head to the underside of any smooth, level surface, whether animate or inanimate 

 does not matter, which 

 is likely to carry it 

 into the \'icinity of food, 

 always preferring such a 

 situation as promises that 

 the food will float to- 

 wards its mouth as it 

 lies closely attached to its 

 host ; for which purpose 

 it always fastens itself 

 with its head in the 

 direction in which its 

 host is progressing. But 

 this is not the only 

 reason for the creature 

 choosing such a position : 

 the arrangement of the 

 sucker is such that while 

 a direct pull backward 

 only seems to increase its 

 hold upon whatever it 

 is attached to, so that 

 it may be torn asunder 

 rather than relinquish its 

 grasp, a verj- slight push 

 forward will instantly re- 

 lease it. 



But of all the places 

 in which this lazy fish 

 loves to lurk, there are 

 none so greatly to its 

 mind as the roof of the 

 mouth of some large 

 shark, or some kinds of 

 whales. Here, with its 

 head pointing in the 

 direction in which its 

 host is going it can, and 



THE SUCKING FISH. 



A good view of the strange suclter. looking for all the world like the sole of a tennis- 

 shoe, with which the fish has attached itself to the glass of the aquarium. 



