104 FISH—CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 
Mediterranean, as is related in a subsequent paragraph, ap- 
pears to occur in the summer months, at the very time when our 
swordfish are thronging our own waters, apparently with no 
care for the perpetuation of their species. 
MOVEMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL SWORDFISHES. 
A swordfish when swimming near the surface usually allows 
its dorsal fin and the upper lobe of its caudal fin to be visible, 
projecting out of the water several inches. It is this habit 
which enables the fisherman to detect the presence of the fish. 
It swims slowly along, and the fishing schooner with a light 
breeze finds no difficulty in overtaking it. When excited its 
motions are very swift and nervous. Swordfish are sometimes 
seen to leap entirely out of the water. Early writers attributed 
this habit to the tormenting presence of parasites, but this theory 
seems hardly necessary, knowing what we do of its violent ex- 
ertions at other times. The pointed head, the fins at the back 
and abdomen snugly fitting into grooves, the absence of ven- 
trals, the long, lithe, muscular body, sloping slowly to the tail, 
fit it for the most rapid and forcible movement through the wa- 
fer. Prof. Richard Owen, testiltying in.an English ‘couriam 
regard to its power, said - 
“Tt strikes with the accumulated force of fifteen double-hand- 
ed hammers. Its velocity is equal to that of a swivel-shot, and 
is as dangerous in its effects as a heavy artillery projectile.” 
Many very curious instances are on record of the encounters 
of this fish with other fishes or of their attacks upon ships. 
What can be the inducement for it to attack objects so much 
larger than itself it is hard to surmise. Every one knows the 
couplet from Oppian : 
‘** Nature her bounty to his mouth confined, 
Gave him a sword, but left unarmed his mind.” 
ft surely seems as if a teniporary insanity sometimes takes 
possession of the fish. It is not strange that, when harpooned, 
it should retaliate by attacking its assailant. An old swordfish- 
erman told Mr. Blackford that his vessel had been struck twen- 
ty times. There are, however, many instances of entirely 
