122 THE BROAD-FINNED SWORD-FISM. 



— the bottom of his ship being pierced through m 

 such a manner that the sword was completely em- 

 bedded, or driven through its whole length, and the 

 fish killed by the violence of the effort. A part of 

 the bottom of the vessel, with the sword embedded 

 in it, is now lodged in the British Museum*. 



The Sword-fish and the Whale are said never to 

 meet without coming to battle ; and the former has 

 the repute of being always the aggressor. Some- 

 times two of them join against one Whale, in which 

 case the combat is by no means equal. The whale 

 uses his tail only in his defence : he dives down into 

 the water, head foremost, and makes such a blow 

 with this, that, if it takes effect, finishes the Sword- 

 fish at a stroke : but the other, who in general is 

 sufficiently adroit to avoid it, immediately falls upon 

 the Whale, and buries his weapon in his sides. 

 When the Whale discovers the Sword-fish darting 

 upon him, he dives to the bottom, but is closely 

 pursued by his antagonist, who compels him again to 

 rise to the surface. The battle then begins afresh, 

 and lasts till the Sword-fish loses sight of the Whale, 

 who is at length compelled to swim off, which his 

 superior agility allows him to do. In the Sword- 

 fish piercing the Whale's body with the tremendous' 

 weapon at his snout, he seldom does any great 

 damage to the animal, from not being able to pe- 

 netrate much beyond the blubber. 



* Shaw's Nat. Mis. iii. t. 88. 



