XIPHIIDJi. 511 



Fam. 18. XIPHIIDiE. 



Sword-fishes. 



Scomberoidei, pt., Cnner, Miillvr, Owen, Richardson. 



Xipliioidei, Affass. Rccherchcs Puiss. Foss. v. p. 89. 



Body elongate, compressed," naked, or covered M-ith rudimentary 

 dermal productions. Teeth none, or rudimentary. The ujjper jaw 

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

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

 trals absent, or rudimentary and thoracic. Seven branchiostegals ; 

 pseudobrancliioe and air-bladder present. Vyloric appendages in 

 great number. Ycrtebrse ^-^—^ 



2tlediterranean ; open seas between or near the tropics. 



Si/nojysls of the Genera. 



Ventral fins nonc^ 1. Xiphias 



Ventral fins present 2. Histiopuouits 



1. XIPHIAS. 



Xiphias, Artedi, Genera, p. 29. 

 Xiphias and Machtera, Cnvier. 



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

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

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

 spines not developed. Scales none, or rudimentaiy ; skin of immatiu'e 

 specimeub w:ith 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. 



Si(f>iai,Arisfot. ii. c. 13, 15 viii. c. 19; Athen. vii. 314; ^lian. ix. c. 40, 



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

 Xiphias, Oriel. Hal. v. 67 ; Plin. xxxii. c. 2. 11 ; Rondel, viii. c. 15. 



p. 251 ; Bdlon. p. 109 ; Gesner, p. 1049 ; Wilhu/hby, p. 161. tab. 



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

 Gladius, Plin. ix. c. 15 ; Sale. f. 120, 127; Aldror. iii. c. 21. p. 332 ; 



Gesner, p. 379 ; Schonev. p. 35 ; Olearius, Gottorff. Kunst-Ka7nmer, 



pp. 2, 37. tab. 23. f. 3 (faulty). 

 Xiphias gladius, L. Syst i. p. 4:32 ; Bl. taf. 76 ; Bl. Schn. p. 93 ; Fle- 



minrf, Brit. Anini. p. 220; Risso, Ichthi/ol. Nice, p. 99, and Fur. 



Merid. iii. p. 208; Cvr. S,- Val. viii. p. 255. pi. 225, 226; Storer, 



