PERCH-LIKE FISHES 165 



SWORD-FISH OR BROADBILL. 



(Family Xiphiid^e ; Genus Xiphias.) Fig. 56. 



In general appearance similar to the Spear-fishes. There 

 are no scales, except in young individuals. The rostrum forms 

 a pointed " sword " instead of a " spear ", being horizontally 

 flattened and oval in cross-section. There art no teeth in the 

 adult fish. In the young the dorsal fin is continuous and rathei 

 high, but later becomes divided into two, and in the adult 

 fish consists of a high front lobe, widely separated from the 

 small second portion, which is placed well back on the tail 

 and opposite to the second part of the anal fin. There is a 

 single fleshy keel on the middle of each side of the peduncle 

 of the caudal fin. There are no pelvic fins. The coloration 

 in life is a rich dark purple-blue on the back and upper parts 

 of the sides, with a beautiful metallic sheen, grading into a 

 silvery-grey on the belly. The " sword " is nearly black on 

 its upper surface, but paler underneath, and the fins are all 

 dark with a silvery sheen. 



Fossil remains of Sword-fishes probably date back to the 

 Eocene period. 



Grows to a length of nearly 20 feet and a weight of over 

 1000 lb. 



There is only one species, the Sword-fish, Broadbill or 

 " Espada " (A r . gladius), which ranges through all the tropical 

 and temperate seas of the world. It is a not uncommon 

 visitor to the British Isles in summer and autumn months, 

 especially on the 'southern and south-western coasts. 



This a veritable giant of the open sea, and, apart from 

 certain Sharks and the ribbon-like Oar-fish, it is probably 

 the largest of the oceanic fishes living to-day. The average 

 size is between 6 and 10 feet long, however, with a weight of 

 about 100 lb. Sword-fishes have been described as solitary 

 hunters, and this is mainly true. Many individuals may be 

 present in a given part of the sea at the same time, but they 

 never seem to swim together in shoals, but keep at least 30 or 

 40 feet apart. As a rule they swim near the surface of the sea, 

 and the traveller has his attention drawn to their presence by 



