SWORDFISH. 147 



month of August, 1801, near Westra, one of the northernmost 

 islands of the Orkneys, an individual of the smaller species of 

 "Whales, known as the Herring Hog, was attacked by a 

 Swordfish; and when thus compelled to leap out of the water, 

 which it did to the height of six feet, it was observed that 

 the sword had been thrust into the Whale's body behind the 

 pectoral fins. Its leaps continued, and then it was perceived 

 that a Thrasher was assailing it on the sides. The "Whale 

 appeared as if near death as the three passed near the boat 

 in which the observers were. 



If the usual incitement of appetite be supposed in this case, 

 it can only have been gratified with blood; for the Swordfish 

 has no teeth to tear the flesh, and, from the structure of its 

 mouth, the food can only be swallowed whole. Dr. Fleming 

 found the remains of Cuttles (SepiceJ in its stomach; and, 

 besides these, it has been known to feed on small fishes. Oppian 

 says that it eagerly devours the Hippuris, which we suppose 

 to be the species of Coryphcena at this time so named; and 

 Captain Beechy, in his voyage to the Pacific Ocean, mentions 

 an instance in which a Swordfish (perhaps not the European 

 species) made an attack on the tin case in which a thermometer 

 was let down into the sea, but it did not succeed in carrying 

 it off. 



It becomes still more difficult to imagine a cause for the 

 angry feelings of the Swordfish, when we discover that in this 

 persecution of the Whale, the attack is shared by a fish with 

 which it does not appear to possess any similarity of feeling 

 or habits. Yet the strange contest has been witnessed in many 

 instances, where the Thrasher (Shark) has put forth all its 

 powers of exciting terror, while the Swordfish has carried on 

 its more formidable warfare, by rushing at and piercing deeply 

 its giant victim — even to the death. 



But the Swordfish is not always on the conquering side; 

 and I possess a memorandum, from the mouth of a sailor who 

 watched with interest the anxious motions of one, which he 

 supposed to be eight or nine feet in length, as it was followed 

 closely and rapidly in all its turnings, by a Blue Shark. Twice 

 did it leap above the surface to escape the near approach of 

 its pursuer, but with what success at last the observer had 

 no opportunity of knowing. 



