100 COMMON SWORDFISH. 



lower: this part, which is commonly called the 

 sword, is flattish above and beneath, and sharp on 

 the sides : it is of a bony substance, covered by a 

 strong skin or epidermis : down the middle of the 

 upper part runs an impressed line or furrow, and 

 three similar ones on the lower surface : the tongue 

 is free or unconnected with the palate, and is of a 

 strong texture, and in the throat are certain rough 

 bones : the nostrils are double, and seated near the 

 eyes, which are moderately large, and protuberant : 

 the body is covered by a thin skin, having a thick 

 fatty membrane lying beneath : the lateral line is 

 placed near the back, and is formed of a series of 

 longish black specks : the dorsal fin is very high at 

 its commencement, and sinking suddenly, becomes 

 very shallow, and is continued to within a small di- 

 stance from the tail, terminating in an elevated 

 process: the vent -fin is placed nearly opposite this 

 part beneath, and is moderately small, and much 

 wider at each extremity than at its middle: the 

 pectoral fins are rather small, and of a lanceolate 

 shape : the tail is large and crescent-shaped, and 

 on each side the body, immediately before the tail, 

 is a strong finny prominence or appendage. The 

 general colour of the Swordfish is 'brown, accom- 

 panied by a deep steel-blue cast on the head and 

 upper parts, and silvery white on the sides and 

 abdomen. 



Mr. Pennant observes that the ancient method 

 of taking the Swordfish, particularly described by 

 Strabo, agrees exactly with that practised by the 

 moderns at the present day. A man ascends one 



