THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. 209 



one hundred in number: we then hauled on both 

 ropes for nearly the whole of the day, before the 

 fish became exhausted. On endeavouring to raise 

 the fish it became most desperate, sweeping with its 

 saw from side to side, so that we were compelled to 

 get strong guy-ropes to prevent it from cutting us to 

 pieces. After that, one of the Spaniards got on its 

 back, and at great risk cut through the joint of the 

 tail, when animation was completely suspended: it 

 was then measured, and found to be 22 feet long 

 and 8 feet broad, and weighed nearly 5 tons."* 



Other monstrous creatures, of unpleasing forms 

 and formidable powers, rove at will through these 

 waters. I shall mention only the Horned Eay 

 {Cephaloptera). Imagine a Thornback or Skate, of 

 the length of twenty- five feet, with the side-fins 

 greatly lengthened out, so as to make the total width 

 upwards of thirty feet: these side-fins, instead of 

 meeting in a point in front of the head, projecting on 

 each side into a curved point, like a horn. Such is 

 the Cephaloptera; and it is powerful and voracious 

 in proportion to its size. Col. Hamilton Smith, in the 

 neighbourhood of Trinidad, had the pain of witness- 

 ing a fellow-creature involved in the horrible embrace 

 of one of these monsters. It was at early dawn that 

 a soldier was endeavouring to desert from the ship by 

 swimming on shore. A sailor from aloft, seeing the 

 approach of one of these terrific fishes, alarmed the 

 swimmer, who endeavoured to return; but, in sight 

 of his comrades, was presently overtaken, the crea- 

 ture throwing over him one of its huge fins, and thus 



* Mag. Nat. Hist. 1839, p. 519. 

 14 s 2 



