173 tHH SWORD -FISH. 



other gtadually diminifliing, till the four lall, which a=. 

 gain rife higher, and give the appcajrance of a fecond fin. 

 The tail branchea into forks, exa£lly refembling a cref- 

 cent : There are on each fide, a little above the tail, two 

 triangular protuberances, formed by the Ikin, refembling 

 the fpurious fins of the tunnj : the pe£toral fins are placed 

 at the gills ; the firft ray of thefe is alfo by far the longeft, 

 which gives them the appearance of a fcythe. The anus 

 is placed about one third part of the body from the tail, 

 and below it are two anal fins connefled by a common 

 membrane. The fword-fifh is exceedingly voracious, 

 and is a great enemy of the tunny, which difcovers its 

 fear as foon as it approaches. Ovid and Belon take no- 

 tice of its hoftilities againfl this timid prey *. 



The fword-fifh fometimes frequents the Britijh feas, 

 but IS much more common in the Mediterranean ; the 

 Straits of McJJina are particularly famous for it ; and it 

 was probably upon a promontory there, that the Jpecu- 

 latores, or perfons employed to watch and give notice of 

 its approach, were flationed. Willoiighhy informs us 

 that he went himfelf to Scylla to be a fpedlator of the /- 

 taliafi method of killing this animal : The fpies above^ on 

 feeing the fword, make fignals to the boats below, dire6l- 

 ing the failors where to fleer: As foon as the vefTel reach- 

 es the fpot where the fifties are, one of the moll fkilful of 

 the fifliermen gets upon a mafl, erected for the purpofe, 

 and dire£ls the boat till it comes within reach of the par- 

 ticular fifn at which he intends to aim ; he then comes 



down 



* Ac durus Xiphlus, ictu non mitior cnfis ; 

 Et pavidi magjio fugientes agmine Thunni. Halieut, 97. 



