[19] MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF THE SWORD-FISHES. 307 
and has given to a fish, which he figures in plate xxi of this work, 
the name Xiphias imperator. This name was rejected by Cuvier (Regne 
Animal, 1. c.), and has not been recognized by later writers. It seems to 
me, however, that Schneider has, perhaps unintentionally, yet quite in- 
telligibly, feed the principal differential characters of Tetrapturus. 
By “dorso scabro” he covers the question of the scales; by ‘“carnia 
caudali nulla” he refers to the absence of the single ae carnia of 
Xiphias, while by figure and by implication in his description he admits 
the presence of ventral fins. His figure, though bad, is as good as most 
of the old figures of Xiphias—that in Lacépéde for ere. 
T. imperator is said to attain the length of five or six feet, and the 
weight of 150 pounds. It has been taken in the Straits of Messina 
with the harpoon, but according to Rafinesque is very rarely seen on 
the coasts of Sicily, and then only in autumn, when it is following the 
dolphin and flying-fish, upon which it feeds. It is ordinarily seen in 
pairs, male and female together, and they are taken often in the nets 
together. Its flesh is white, but not particularly well flavored. At 
Messina it is call “ Aguglia imperiale (Cuvier & Valenciennes, lL. c.). 
3. TETRAPTURUS INDICUS, Cuv. & Val. 
Tetrapturus indicus, Cuv. & Vau. Hist. Nat. Poiss. viii, 1831, p. 286 (on figure 
belonging to Sir Joseph Banks). 
A species founded on a figure of a specimen obtained in Sumatra, 
communicated by Sir Joseph Banks to Broussonet, who refers to it at 
the end of his “‘ Memoire sur le Volier”.* 
The description is worthless. It is stated by Cuvier and Valenciennes 
that this fish had been supposed to be the male of Histiophorus gladvus, 
but that it is much more nearly related to Tetrapturus of the Mediter- 
ranean, though. with a longer beak. 
The notes accompanying the figure state that it attains the leng th of 
nine feet and the weight of 200 pounds, and was known to the Malays 
by the name ‘*Joo-hoo”. 
Giinther regards it as perhaps synonymous with 7. Herschelii, Gray. t 
4, TETRAPTURUS HERSCHELU, Gray. / 
Tetrapturus Herschelii, GRAY, Ann. Nat. Hist. i, 1838, p. 313, pl. x.—LUTKEN, Il.c. 
Histiophorus Herscheliit, GUNTHER, 1. ¢. 
This species was described from a specimen eleven feet long obtained 
at Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope, in 1837. The description is repro- 
duced in the appendix, and the plate is also here presented. The type 
of Z. Herschelii is in the British Museum. The United States National 
Museum has some fine skins, apparently of this species, brought from 
Mauritius by Col. Nicholas Pike, United States consul. There is no 
reason to doubt that this species may be the same with 7. indicus, 
Cuv. & Val., just described, ee being little probability that there 
* Hist de VAcad. ae s Sciences Paris, 1786, pp. 490- 455. 
+Giinther, 1. ¢, p. 513, sub. Histiophorus. Herschelii, 
