164 SAW-FISHES. 



light but as organs for seizing their prey. When the 

 fishes are taken by any artificial means, they will be 

 roused, often successfully, to cut the line or cord 

 which hold them, and any object placed within 

 the jaws is firmly seized and held ; but this cannot 

 be viewed in the light of voluntary attack. 



The saw-fishes indicate unusual provisions for 

 offensive warfare. These are closely allied to the 

 sharks, and several species have been discovered. 

 The upper jaw is prolonged into a projecting flat- 

 tened snout, the greatest length of which seems to 

 be about six feet. On the lateral margins of this 

 snout are set, horizontally, numerous sharp pikes 

 similar to teeth, which exhibit a formidable edge, 

 and if wielded with force must be a most powerful 

 and dangerous weapon. The true teeth of the ani- 

 mal are placed on the jaws, somewhat similar to 

 those of the rays and some sharks. 



The Pristis antiquorum is one of the largest 

 species, growing to the length of from fifteen to 

 sixteen feet ; at least such is the size of the speci- 

 mens hitherto met with. The general colour is a 

 dull grey, growing paler as it approaches the under 

 parts, where it is nearly white. The wood-cut 

 will show the form of the snout, or saw, which the 

 small size of our other figure scarcely details, suf- 

 ficiently. 



