THE XYPHIAS GLADIUS. 213 



by signs to his colleagues, of the course it takes. Another 

 person, stationed in a boat, climbs up the mast, and on seeino- 

 the fish, directs the rowers to it. As soon as he thinks they 

 have got within reach, he descends, and, taking a harpoon 

 or spear in his hand, strikes it into the fish, which after 

 having wearied itself with its agitations is soon killed ; it is 

 seized and drawn into the boat. The flesh is much esteemed 

 by the Sicilians, who cut it into pieces and salt it : this pro- 

 cess was anciently performed at the town of Thurii, in the 

 bay of Tarentum, and hence the fish was called Tornus 

 Thurianus.* 



The sword-fish is found in the Northern Seas, and oc- 

 casionally in the Pacific; it is probable, however, that it 

 has been often confounded with one of a different species, 

 and which is more common in that ocean. + 



* Plin. lib. 32, c. ii. 



t Shaw's Zoology, vol. iv. Part i. p. 101. 



