434 Fishes. 



name from its long snout resembling the blade of a sword. 

 It sometimes weighs above one hundred pounds, and is 

 fifteen or even twenty feet in length. The body is of a 

 conical form, black on the back, white under the body ; the 

 mouth large, with no teeth ; the tail is remarkably forked. 

 The Sword-fish is often taken off the coast of Italy, in the 

 Bay of Naples, and about Sicily. They are struck at by 

 the fishermen, and their flesh is considered as good as 

 that of the sturgeon by the Sicilians, who seem to be 

 particularly fond of it. Other European seas are not 

 destitute of this curious animal. 



The Sword-fish and the whale are said never to meet 

 without coming to battle ; and the former has the repu- 

 tation of being always the aggressor. Sometimes two 

 Sword-fishes join against one whale ; in which case the 

 combat is by no means equal. The whale uses his tail in 

 his defence ; he dives deeply into the water, head foremost, 

 and makes such a blow with his tail, that, should it take 

 effect, it kills the Sword-fish at a single stroke ; but the 

 latter is in general sufficiently adroit to avoid it, and im- 

 mediately rushes at the whale, and buries its weapon in 

 his side. When the whale discovers the Sword-fish dart- 

 ing upon him, he dives to the bottom, but is closely pur- 

 sued by his antagonist, who compels him again to rise to 

 the surface. The battle then begins afresh, and lasts until 

 the Sword-fish loses sight of the whale, who is at length 

 compelled to swim off, which his superior agility enables 

 him to do. In piercing the whale's body with the 

 tremendous weapon at his snout, the Sword-fish seldom 

 inflicts a dangerous wound, not being able to penetrate be- 

 yond the blubber. This animal can drive its sword with 

 such force into the keel of a ship, as to bury it wholly 

 in the timber. A part of the bottom of a vessel, with 

 the sword imbedded in it, is to be seen in the British 

 Museum. 



