HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 149 



The fan-shaped pectoral fins arise from under the posterior inferior angle of the oper- 

 culum, being partly crossed by that angle ; the first rays, which are highest, are nearly 

 equal to one third the length of the head. 



The fin rays are as follows : D. 133 - 135. P. 12. Length, from two to three feet. 



Remarks. This beautiful fish is a Southern species, and is very rarely found in our 

 waters. During twenty years' attention to the fishes of Massachusetts, I have known 

 but two individuals to be taken. One of these was cast ashore, during the summer of 

 1840, upon the beach at Buttermilk Bay, in the northern corner of Buzzard's Bay; the 

 other was captured at Wellfleet in the summer of 1845. From this latter specimen, re- 

 ceived in a perfectly fresh condition, my figure and description have been prepared. 



Dekay states that it is known by the fishermen of New York by the name of Ribbon- 

 fish. According to Browne, it is called Sword-fish at Jamaica. 



Massachusetts, STOKER. New York, MITCHILL, DEKAY. Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean 

 Sea, South America, CUVIER. 



GENUS VI. XIPHIAS, LIN. 



Body fusiform, covered with minute scales ; a single elongated dorsal fin ; ventral fins 

 wanting ; tail strongly carinated ; upper jaw elongated, forming a sword. Mouth with- 

 out teeth. Branch iostegous rays, seven. 



XIPHIAS GLADIUS, Lin. 



The Sword-fish. 

 (PLATE XIII. FIG. 2.) 



Xiphias yladius, LIN., Syst. Nat., p. 432. 



" Common Stvord-Jish, SHAW, Gen. Zool., iv. p. 99, fig. 14. 

 " " " " STRACK'S Plates, xxi. fig. 1. 



" " " " PENNANT, Arc. Zool., u. p. 113. 



GRIFFITH'S Cuv., x. p. 187, pi. 27, fig. 1, and Supplement to the Acanthopterygii, p. 349. 

 L'Espadon tpte (Xiphias gladius, LIN.), Cuv. et VAL., vm. p. 255, pi. 225 and 226. 

 Xiphias gladius, WILSON, Encyclopaedia Brit , Art. Ichth., p. 184, pi. 202. 

 " " JENYNS, Brit. Vert., p. 364. 

 " " YARRELL, Brit. Fishes (2d edit.), i. p. 164, fig. 

 " " STOKER, Report, p. 51. 

 " " DEKAY, Report, p. Ill, pi. 26, fig. 79. 

 " " STOKER, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 347. 

 " " " Synopsis, p. 95. 



Color. In the fresh fish, the back and upper parts of the sides are almost black ; 

 this color changes to a bluish after death. The abdomen is of a dirty-white color, 

 which afterwards is changed into a silvery gray. The gill-covers are silvery brown, and 

 present on their surface an arborescent appearance. 



