ICHTHYOLOGY. 20 



from the gills to the tail. It is from two to three 

 feet in length, of a very voracious nature, and in 

 pursuit of its prey sometimes leaps into small ves- 

 sels sailing by. It is a native of South America, 

 some parts of India, and China, 



Q. Describe the Trichiurus Electricus. 



A. The Trichiurus Electricus, or Electrical 

 Trichiure, differs but little from the former, except 

 in its colour, which is pale brown, and in its pos- 

 sessing the power of giving slight electrical shocks. 

 It is a native of the Indian seas. 



Q. Are there many species of Xiphias? 



A. Of the Xiphias there is only one species, 

 Xiphias Gladus which sometimes visits our shore, 

 but is common in the Mediterranean sea. Its 

 body is of a cylindrical shape, it has no teeth in 

 its mouth, and the upper jaw terminates in a long 

 sword-shaped rostrum or beak, from which it is 

 called the sword-fish. 



Q. Is this genus formidable ? 



A. Yes; it is a terrible enemy to the whale. 

 " At the sight of this, comparatively little, ani- 

 mal," says Anderson, " the whale seems agitated 

 in an extraordinary manner, leaping from the wa- 

 ter as if with affright, and endeavouring to escape: 



Cylindrical, a. long and round. 

 c 3 



