148 PISCES. 



nates their upper jaw; a powerful weapon with wliich they attack the 

 largest sea animals. This beak is chiefly composed of the vomer and 

 intermaxillaries, being strengthened at its base by the aethmoid, 

 frontals, and maxillaries. Their branchiae are not pectinated; each 

 of them being formed of two large parallel laminae, the surface of 

 which is reticulated.(l) They swim with astonishing swiftness, and 

 their flesh is excellent. 



XiPHiAS, Cuv. 



The Sword-Fish, properly so called, has no ventrals. But one 

 species is known. 



Xiphias gladius, L. (The Sword-Fish.) The point horizon- 

 tally flattened and trenchant like the broad blade of a sword; 

 sides of the tail strongly carinated. It has but one dorsal, which 

 rises from before and from behind; the middle of it becoming 

 worn with age gives it the appearance of being double. It is 

 one of the largest and best fishes of the European seas, fre- 

 quently attaining the length of fifteen feet. It is more common 

 in the Mediterranean than in the Atlantic Ocean. A parasitic 

 crustaceous animal(2) penetrates into its flesh and sometimes 

 renders it so furious that it dashes itself on shore.(3) 



Tetrapturus, Rafin. 



Point of the muzzle shaped like a stilet; each ventral consisting 

 of a single non-articulated blade; two small salient crests on each 

 side of the base of the caudal as in the Mackerel. 



One species inhabits the Mediterranean, the Aiguille of the 

 Sicilians, Tetrapturus belone, Rafin., Caratt., pi. i, f. i. 



Makaira, Lacep. 



The armed muzzle and two small crests of a Tetrapturus, but the 

 ventrals are wanting. 



But a single specimen has ever been seen, and that was cap- 

 tured at the island of Reen in 1802. It is the Mak. noinltre, 

 Lacep.; Xiphias makaira, Sh.(4) 



(1) This led Aristotle to say that the Xiphias has eight branchiae. 



(2) Improperly named by Gmelin, the Pennatula Jilosa. 



(3) N.B. The Xiph. imperator, Bl., Schn., pi. 21, taken from Duham. Sect. IV, 

 pi. xxvi, f. 2, is merely a copy of a bad figure given by Aldrovande (Pise. p. 332) 

 for that of the common Xiphias. This species must consequently be stricken off. 



(4) It yet remains to be seen whether this was not a Tetrapturus that had lost 

 its ventrals. The fig. of Lacep., IV, xiii, 3, is taken from the rude drawing of a 

 fisherman. 



