ACANTHOPTERYGII. 351 



timony of Trebius Niger, relates, thai near a place on the coasts 

 of Mauritania, named Gotta, not far from the river Lixus, some 

 vessels were pierced by the beak of the xiphias, and sprung 

 a leak in consequence. This fact has been contested, and 

 yet one exactly similar is recorded by Cornicle, of a Spanish 

 vessel, on the coast of Gallicia, which was on the point of 

 perishing from having been pierced by one of these fish, and 

 he assures us that the plank, and the beak which was im- 

 planted in it, are preserved in the Royal Cabinet of Madrid. 

 We may well conceive that such accidents cannot happen 

 except to slight and old vessels. But it frequently occurs 

 that the beaks of these fishes are found broken in the keels of 

 ships. 



The fishery of the xiphias, according to Brydone, is more 

 diverting than that of the tunny. A man mounted on the 

 mast of a vessel, or on a rock in the neighbourhood, gives 

 notice of its approach. It is attacked with a small harpoon 

 attached to a long line, and frequently struck at a consider- 

 able distance. It is precisely the whale fishery in miniature. 

 Sometimes the pursuit is continued for some hours before the 

 fish is caught. The Sicilian fishermen, who are remarkably 

 supei'stitious, chaunta sort of stave, which Brydone thinks is 

 Greek, and which they regard as a charm, to entice the 

 xiphias to their boat. It is the only bait which they employ. 

 They pretend that it is of most marvellous efficacy, and that 

 it forces the fish to follow them, whereas, if it should unfor- 

 tunately hear one word of Italian, it would instantly dive into 

 the water and be seen no more. 



The flesh of the young sword-fish is perfectly white, com- 

 pact, firm, and of an excellent flavour. That of the old ones 

 assumes other qualities. 



The Histiophori, or sailors, (voiliers) differ from the 

 tetrapturi by the great height of their dorsal fin. Though 

 very anciently described, they have been for a long time mis- 



