I30 THE BROAD-FINNED SWORD-FISH. 



has no teeth. The gill membrane is eight-rayed ; 

 and the body is rounded, and has no apparent 

 scales. 



These are very large and powerful animals, often 

 growing to the length of twenty feet and upwards. 

 Their voracity is unbounded, for they attack and 

 destroy almost every thing living that comes in their 

 way. The larger fish they penetrate with their long 

 snout, few of which, when within sight of them, can 

 either withstand or avoid its shock. There are only 

 two species, one of which only is found in the Eu- 

 ropean seas. 



THE BROAD-FINNED SWORD-FISH*. 



This species of Sword-fish inhabits the Brasilian 

 and East Indian Seas, and also the Northern Ocean. 

 The body is of a silvery bluish white, except the 

 upper parts of the back, and the head and tail, 

 which are of a deep brown. The skin is smooth, 

 and without any appearance of scales. From the 

 long sharp-pointed process in front of the head, it 

 wouid seem, on a cursory view, to be allied to the 

 European species ; but it differs from this in having 

 an extremely broad back- fin, and two long sharp- 

 pointed appendages proceeding from the thorax. It 

 frequently grows to the length of twenty feet and up- 

 wards, and is a very powerful fish. 



* Synonyms.— -Xiphias platypterue. Shaxv — Indian Sword-fish, 

 Sword-fish. Far. — Broad-finned Sword-fish.-— Shaw's Nat. Mis. 



