358 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



Tbis name was rejected by Cuvier (Regne Animal, I. c.), and has not been recognized by later 

 writers. It seems to me, however, that Schneider has, perhaps unintentionally, yet quite intelli- 

 gibly, expressed the principal differential characters of Tetraptums. By "dorxo scabro" he covers 

 the question of the scales; by "carma caudali nitlla" he refers to the absence of the single caudal 

 cariua of Xiphias, while by figure and by implication in his description he admits the presence of 

 ventral fins. His figure, though bad, is as good as most of the old figures of Xiphias that in 

 Lacepede, for example. 



T. imperator is said to attain the length of five or six feet, and the weight of one hundred and 

 fifty pounds. It has been taken in the Straits of Messina with the harpoon, but according to 

 Rafinesque is very rarely seen on the coasts of Sicily, and then only in autumn, when it is follow- 

 ing the dolphin and flying-fish, upon which it feeds. It is ordinarily seen in pairs, male and 

 female together, and they are taken often in the nets together. Its flesh is white, but not partic- 

 nlarly well flavored. At Messina it is called "Aguglia imperiale" (Cuvier and Valenciennes). 



Two species have been described by Poey from Cuba, one of which, T. albidus, is not uncom- 

 mon on the Atlantic coast of the United States. Liitken is disposed to consider them both iden- 

 tical with the T. indicus type, and it seems to me that there is as much reason for doing this as for 

 throwing together the Sail-fishes of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, as has been persistently done 

 by all writers on ichthyology. 



Many individuals are taken every year by the sword-fish fishermen of New England, and they 

 also frequently find their way into the pounds along the coast. 



MOVEMENTS OF SPEAK-FISHES. The Spear-fish in our waters is said by the fishermen to 

 resemble the Sword-fish in its movements and manner of feeding. Professor Poey narrates that 

 both the Cuban species swim at a depth of one hundred fathoms, and they journey in pairs, 

 shaping their course toward the Gulf of Mexico, the females being full of eggs. Only adults are 

 taken. It is not known whence they come, or where they breed, or how the young return. It is 

 not even known whether the adult fishes return by the same route. When the fish has swallowed 

 the hook it rises to the surface, making prodigious leaps and plunges. At last it is dragged to 

 the boat, secured with a boat-hook, and beaten to death before it is hauled ou board. Such fishing 

 is not without danger, for the Spear-fish sometimes rushes upon the boat, drowning the fisherman, 

 or wounding him with its terrible weapon. The fish becomes furious at the appearance of sharks, 

 which are its natural enemies. They engage in violent combats, and when the Spear-fish is 

 attached to the fisherman's line it often receives frightful wounds from these adversaries. 



In "Land and Water" for August 31, 1872, Col. Nicholas Pike, author of "Subtropical Ram- 

 bles," at that time United States consul at Mauritius, describes the habits ot a species of Tetrapturm 

 occurring in that vicinity. He states that they have the habit of resting quietly on the surface i 

 calm weather, with their dorsals expanded and acting as sails. They are taken in deep water with 

 hook and line, or speared when near the surface, like Sword-fish. When hooked or speared they 

 make for the boats, taking tremendous leaps in the air, and if care is not taken they will jump into 

 the boats, to the great consternation of the fishermen, or else pierce the boats with their bills. 

 The fish is highly esteemed in the Mauritius, the flesh being of a salmon-color near the vertebra; 

 lower down it is red and like coarse beef. The species attains a large size, one having been seen 

 measuring twenty-six feet. 



PUGNACITY OF THE SPEAR-FISH. The Spear-fish strikes vessels in the same manner as the 

 jSword-fi.sh. I am indebted to Capt. William Spiccr, of Noank, Connecticut, for this note: 



"Mr. William Taylor, of Mystic, a man seventy-six years old, who was in the smack 'Ever- 

 green,' Capt. John Applernan, tells me that they started from Mystic, October 3, 1832, ou a fishing 



