FISHES. 



639 



of the Norwegian ports, when bathing one day in the sea, was assailed 

 by a shoal of mackerel. His companions came to his relief; the 

 eager band were repulsed with great difficulty, but not till it was too 

 late : the unfortunate sailor was so exhausted that he died a few 

 hours after. By a natural law of compensation the ubiquitous 

 mackerel is surrounded by numerous enemies ; the larger inhabitants 

 of the ocean eagerly devour them. Certain fishes, in appearance 

 very weak, such as the Mura^na, fight them with great advantage. 



Fig. 399. — The Sword-fish (Xiphias gladius). 



The family XipJiiidcc contains the Sword-fish, Xiphias gladius 

 (Fig. 399), so called from the upper jaw being elongated into a 

 formidable spear or sword. It was known to the ancients, and 

 has borne the name which recalls its saHent characteristic from 

 very early times. It is recognised at a glance from its peculiar 

 appearance, and from the resemblance of its prolonged horizontal 

 and trenchant snout to the blade of a sword. With the ancients it 

 was Ei(pias, and Gladius ; with the moderns it is the Sword-fish, the 

 Dart, the Spece spada, and l Espadon epee. 



