NATURAL HISTORY. 



suitable for that purpose. If the matter were taken up at the mouth 

 of the Tapti or Nerbudda, very likely the fish might be got in good 

 season there. The Maratha name is "Chela" (= " disciple") 

 which corresponds to the Bengal " Tapasi," said to mean a hermit 

 or penitent. The large Polynemi are here called " Rawas/' and 

 are very fair eating, though not in the first class. 



The next is a remarkable family, the Sword-fishes, represented here 

 by at least one species, Histiopl torus hrevirostris, called in Maratha 

 < c Tar-masa," or " Wire-fish," probably from the filiform ventral 

 appendages; and also (according to an unsigned MS. note in my 

 office copy of Day) " Mar-masa, " or "the striker," which seems 

 more appropriate. In this fish the upper jaw, or snout, is not so 

 long as in the Atlantic Xiphias, or even in some of its own con- 

 geners ; but there is quite enough of it to make a very formidable 

 weapon, as its length from the gape appears to be about f of the 

 total length of the fish, which sometimes exceeds 10 feet; That it 

 is used as a weapon is proved by many instances ; but in particular 

 there is in our Museum a "sword" of this species which I myself 

 found sticking in the left hind-leg-socket of a turtle (Caivana 

 olivacea), brought to me alive. Not only malice prepense, but 

 considerable cunning of fence, were required to inflict this wound. 

 Judging hj proportions, the sword-fish must have been lighter 

 than the turtle (not a large specimen), and it is not easy to see 

 what he could expect to do with the latter when dead. 



After the Sword-fishes, quaintly enough, come Scabbard-fishes 

 (Trichiuridce) , long thin creatures like silver streamers, fancifully 

 supposed to resemble a steel regulation .scabbard. They are very 

 good eating when fresh, but are chiefly used here for drying 

 without salt in the sun, for which their shape fits them well. 

 They live on the top of the water, sometimes in great numbers, 

 and are much preyed up by sea-fowl. Sometimes they will jump 

 into a boat, like the Garfishes. 



The next family, Carangidce, contains one very notable little fish, 

 the " pilot-fish, " who is supposed to take charge of sharks, ships, 

 or any other large things that he considers unable to take care of 

 themselves. I have not got any specimens here. One species 

 of Oaranx, very common, pretends to be a mackerel, and two or 

 three to be pomflets, but the resemblance is external only. They 

 are branded by the natives with the titles of " Chor-wagada" and 

 " Chor (thief) Sarga." Accordingly the true pomflets (Stromaicus) 



