511 



Fam. 18. XIPHIID.E. 



Sword-fishes. 



Scoinberoidei, pt, Cia-ier, Midler, Owen, Richardson. 



Xiphioidei, Agass. SecJierches Poiss. Foss. v. p. 89. 



Body elongate, compressed, naked, or covered with rudimentary 

 dennal production.?. Teeth none, or rudimentary. The upper jaw 

 (ethmoid, vomer, and intennaxillaries) much produced, sword-shaped. 

 One or two dorsal fins, without a distinctly spinous portion. Yen- 

 trals absent, or rudimentary and thoracic. Seven branchiostegals ; 

 pseudobranchiae and air-bladder present. Pyloric appendages in 

 great number. Vertebrae ^^^. 



Mediterranean ; open seaa between or near the tropics. 



Synopsis of tlie Genera. 



Ventral fins none 1. Xiphiab. 



Ventral fins present 2. HisTiopicoErs. 



1. XIPBIAS. 



Xipliiaa, Artedi, Genera, p. 29. 

 Xiphias and MachEera, Cuvier. 



Body rather compressed and elongate ; the upper jaw much pro- 

 duced, sword-shaped, extending far over the lower jaw. Two dor- 

 sals (one in young specimens) ; no spurioas fins ; no ventrals ; anal 

 spines not developed. Scales none, or rudimentary ; skin of immature 

 specimens with rough granulations. Teeth neither in the jaws nor 

 on the palate. Seven branchiostegals; air-bladder present. Py- 

 loric appendages exceedingly numerous. 



Mediterranean ; Atlantic. 



1. Xiphias gladius. 



The Sword-fish. 



Si4>ias,Aris(oi. ii. c. 13. 15, -^-iii. c. 19; Athen. vii. 314 : .^ian. \x. c. 40, 



xiv. c. 23 ; Oppian. i. 8, ii. 48. 

 Xiphias, Orid. H(d. v. 67 ; PUn. xxxii. c. 2. 11 ; Rondel, viii. c. 15. 



p. 251 : Bellon. p. 109 : Gesner, p. 1049 ; Wdlughby, p. 161. tab. 



L. 27. f. 2 ; Ray, p. 52 : Artedi, Genera, p. 30. 

 Gladius, PUn. ix. c. 15 ; Salt. f. 126, 127; Aldrov. iii. c. 21j). 332; 



Gesner, p. 379; Schonev. p. -35: Olearius, Gottoiff. Kunst-Kammer, 



pp. 2, 37. tab. 23. f. 3 (faultv).' 

 Xiphias gladius, L. Sijst. i. p. i32 : Bl. taf. 76 ; BL Schn. p. 93 : Fle- 

 ming, Brit. Anim. p. 220; Risso, Ichthgol. ^ice, p. 99. and JS'ur. 



Merid. iii. p. 208 ; Cuv. ^ Val. viii. p. 255. pi. 22.5, 226 ; Storer, 



