418 NATURAL HISTORY. 



directs its attacks. In the British Museum is a portion of the 

 bottom of a ship, pierced completely through by the " sword " 

 of one of these fish. Its unfortunate owner must have instant- 

 ly perished by the shock, for the sword was imbedded almost 

 to its base, and broken short off. In one instance, a Sword- 

 fish attacked a whaling-ship, and drove its weapon " through 

 the copper sheathing, an inch-board sheathing, a three-inch 

 plank of hard wood, the solid white oak timber of the ship 

 twelve inches thick, through another two-and-a-half inch hard 

 oak ceiling plank, and lastly, perforated the head of an oil 

 cask, where it still remained immovably fixed, so that not a 

 single drop of oil escaped." 



In the Mediterranean, the fishermen eagerly chase the 

 Sword-fish. The harpoon and line are used much in the 

 same manner as in the whale fishery. The Sicilian fishermen 

 have a strange superstition that if the Sword-fish were to 

 hear a word of Italian, it would instantly dive and escape 

 them. They therefore restrict their vocal sounds to an un-' 

 intelligible chant. It is said that the whale is an object of 

 particular enmity to the Sword-fish, and that ships are struck 

 by it, being mistaken for whales. 



The length of this fish is usually from twelve to fifteen 

 feet. It is said to feed principally on tunnies, pursuing the 

 shoals, and transfixing the fish with its sword. 



THE JOHN DORY. 



The JOHN DORY, rendered illustrious by Q,uin the comedian, 

 who was not less known for his comic powers than for his love 

 of good living, is found plentifully off the coasts of Cornwall 

 and Devonshire. The derivation of its name is not quite cer- 

 tain, but in all probability it is derived from the French, doree, 

 or golden, in allusion to its peculiar golden yellow colour. 



Traditions vary as to the spots so conspicuous on its side. 

 Some strenuously assert that this was the fish caught by St. 

 Peter when he took the tribute-money out of its mouth, and 

 upon whose sides the marks of his finger and thumb were 

 left. The Haddock, however, vies with the Dory for this 



