SUCKING-FISH. 
157 
each of which is fringed at the edge with perpen- 
dicular filaments. Commerson enables us to judge 
of its adhesive power, by what he suffered on ap- 
plying his thumb to the head of a living remora ; 
which not only affected the part with a strong 
stupor, but even produced a partial paralysis, that 
continued for some time after he withdrew his 
hand. We are told that this adhesive power in 
the remora was formerly turned to some account 
by the Indians of Jamaica and Cuba, who em- 
ployed this animal to catch for them other fish. 
The remora was taken to sea fastened to a canoe 
by a small line many fathoms in length ; and as 
soon as a fish came within reach, it adhered to it 
with such inflexible tenacity that the Indian was 
enabled to haul them both on shore together. In 
this manner, according to Oviedo, a turtle of a 
very large size has been taken. 
The remora inhabits the Mediterranean and At- 
lantic seas, and grows to the length of about eighteen 
inches. It is of an uniform brown colour, subject to 
some variation. 
We have on our own coasts a fish of similar 
adhesive powers, though of a different genus. The 
lump-sucker, Cyclopterus Lumpus Linn., has an 
oval aperture beneath, which is edged with small 
filaments, by which it is enabled to adhere to the 
rocks. We have a strong proof of its tenacity in 
the British Zoology, where Mr. Pennant assures 
us, that on flinging a fish of this species just 
