[43] MATERIALS FOR A HISTORY OF THE SWORD-FISHES. 331 
388.—ABSENCE OF ORDINARY HABITS OF BREEDING SEASON AMONG 
OUR SWORD-FISH. 
In the Mediterranean, as has been already stated, the very young fish 
are found from November to March, and here from July to the middle of 
September the male fish are seen pursuing the female over the shoals, 
and at this time the males are easily taken. Old swordfishermen assure 
me that on our coast, out of thousands of specimens they have taken, 
they have never seen one containing eggs (Captain Ashby and Captain 
Kirby). I have myself dissected several males, none of which were near 
breeding time. In the European waters they are said often to be seen 
swimming in pairs, male and female. Many sentimental stories were 
current, especially among the older writers, concerning the conjugal af- 
fection and unselfish devotion of the Sword-fish, but these seem to have 
originated in the imaginative brain of the naturalist rather than in his 
perceptive faculties. It is said that when the female fish is taken the 
male seems devoid of fear, approaches the boat, and allows himself easily 
to be taken; but if this be true, this appears to be the case only in the 
height of the breeding season, and is easily understood. I cannot learn 
that two Sword-fish have ever been seen associated together in our 
waters, though I have made frequent and diligent inquiry. 
There is no inherent improbability, however, in this story regarding 
the Sword-fish in HKurope, for the same thing is stated by Professor 
Poey as the result of his studies upon the habits of Tetrapturus. 
39.—CURIOUS ANCIENT BELIEFS CONCERNING THE VIVIPAROUS RE- 
PRODUCTION OF THE SWORD-FISH. 
A curious faney was prevalent in former days regarding an anatomi- 
cal character of the Sword-fish. In an article by Mr. Dale in Philosoph- 
ical Transactions (abridged edition, ii, p. 835), he remarks: “I cannot 
conceive it to be consonant to that Care and Industry of Nature, in pro- 
viding convenient Receptacles for preserving the Fetus; neither is it 
agreeable to Reason to believe, that when Nature hath provided an 
* Uterus in all Animals, not only the Viviparous, and such as only cherish 
the Embryo in Utero, but in the Oviparous also and Insects, the Hel and 
the Xiphia, or Sword-fish, should be the only Animals without it.” 
T.—ENEMIES AND FATALITIES. 
40.—PUGNACITY. 
The pugnacity of the Sword-fish has become a by-word. Without any 
special effort on my part, the following instances of their attacks upon 
vessels have, in the last six years, found their way into the pigeon-hole 
labeled “ A, ILI, 76, Sword-fish ”. 
