310 SCOMBEROIDES. 



first portion of the dorsal fin is pointed and high, 

 but the middle part of it short. A silvery green 

 is the prevailing color, but in a certain position, 

 golden, with azure tinges, are seen, and then, as 

 though there was a particular design in beautifying 

 it, though only occasionally seen by man, well 

 defined white oval spots are dotted along the 

 sides. 



Much as has been said of the splendor of the 

 mackerel, the moon-fish is really, to our appre- 

 hension, the Adonis of the sea. We have not 

 seen a single specimen in spirit, in any cabinet in 

 this country, those brought on shore being usually 

 first placed in pickle, and afterwards dried, which 

 ruins the color. 



CEN. XIPHIAS. 



SwoRD-FisH, — Xiphias Gladius. Two species 

 of the sword-fish have been discovered, but only 

 one of them is known to exist here, which, by w^ay 

 of eminence, is called the great sword-fish. The 

 snout is long and flattened, resembling a dirk; 

 the first dorsal fin, commencing just back of the 

 shoulders, is high, and particularly elevated ante- 

 riorly, but gradually slopes off towards the tail, 

 where it presents merely a sharp ridge above the 

 back, and then suddenly rises into a point again ; 

 some of the first rays are spinous. The anal fin 



