146 SWORDFISH. 



surface; an action supposed to be caused by tbe irritation it 

 suffers from the torment inflicted by a parasitic animal that 

 sometimes pierces through the skin beneath the pectoral fins. 

 It is probable, however, that this leaping above the surface, 

 which has been witnessed by our fishermen, is frequently to 

 be attributed to a wanton exuberance of spirits; and although 

 many instances are recorded of the capture of this fish in 

 Britain, we are not acquainted with one in Avhich the attention 

 of observers has been drawn to the presence of this supposed 

 enemy. 



I have several times been told by fishermen that this fish 

 has shewn itself near their boats; and it appears surprising 

 that it is not more frequently taken, since its well-known 

 swiftness may be judged likely to cause it to become entangled 

 in the floating nets which, in the season of its visits, are 

 spread along the whole extent of our waters. But the only 

 instance of its capture in this way, that has come to my 

 knowledge, was in October, 1861, when an example became 

 entangled in some drift-nets, about two miles from the AYolf 

 Rock, near the Land's End. The larger number have been in 

 seans near the land, at a time when its wandering disposition 

 has brought it into shallower water than its usual habits would 

 have rendered likely. According to ^lian, when thus enclosed 

 in a scan, it often succeeds in delivering itself from the danger 

 by means of its sword-like snout, which tears the meshes, and 

 sets free the Tunnies as well as itself. 



Its general safety must be ascribed to instinctive vigilance; 

 for we can scarcely ascribe it to fear when we know it to be 

 a portion of the character of this fish to assault with violence 

 the mighty bulk of a Whale, when chance may bring them in 

 sight of each other. That the Swordfish has been seen not 

 unfrequently to do this has been long asserted by sailors, 

 although doubted or disbelieved by some who were not in 

 circumstances to be able to form a satisfactory opinion upon 

 the subject. But instances of this nature have been so often 

 warranted by men who, although not acquainted with natural 

 history as a science, were practically accurate observers, that 

 no reasonable ground of disbelief can be permitted to remain, 

 although the motive which leads to such forcible display of 

 enmity must remain beyond our power to imagine. In the 



