212 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



feeding on all kinds of fishes, and is likewise a formidable 

 enemy to the whale,* which it destroys by piercing with 

 its sword-shaped snout. Its body is long, round, and 

 gradually tapering towards the tail ; the head is flattish, 

 but the mouth, and both jaws ending in a point, the upper 

 being stretched to a great distance beyond the lower ; this 

 part, which is commonly called the "Sword," is flattish 

 above and beneath; it is sharp on the sides; it is of a bony 

 substance, covered by a strong skin or epidermis ; down the 

 middle of the upper part runs a furrow or impressed line, 

 and three similar ones on the lower surface : the tongue is 

 free and unconnected with the palate, and is of a strong 

 textm-e ; in the throat are certain rough bones ; the nostrils 

 are double, and seated near the eyes, which are moderately 

 large and protuberant. The body is covered by a thin skin, 

 having a fatty membrane beneath ; the lateral line is placed 

 near the back, and is formed of a series of longish black 

 specks : the dorsal fin is very high at its commencement, 

 and sinking suddenly, becomes very shallow ; it is continued 

 to within a small distance from the tail, terminated in an 

 elevated process : the ventral fin is placed nearly opposite 

 the part beneath, is moderately small, and much wider at 

 each extremity than at its middle. The pectoral fins are 

 rather small, and of a lanceolate form ; the tail is large and 

 crescent-shaped, and on each side the body immediately be- 

 fore the tail is a strong finny prominence or appendage. 



The several colours of the sword-fish is brown, accom- 

 panied by a deep steel-blue cast on the head and upper 

 parts, and silvery white on the sides of the abdomen. 



Mr. Pennant observes that the ancient method of taking 

 the sword-fish, described by Strabo, agrees exactly with 

 that practised by the moderns of the present day. A man 

 ascends one of the cliffs that overhang- the sea, and as soon 

 as he discovers the fish gives notice, either by his voice or 



See page 89, &c. 



