05 FISH GALLERY. 



other fishes of prey that would be likely to prove dangerous to 

 the Pilot. With regard to the statement that the Pilot itself is 

 never attacked by the Shark, all observers agree as to its truth ; 

 but this may be accounted for in the same way as the impunity of 

 the swallow from the hawk, the Pilot-fish being too nimble for the 

 unwieldly Shark. The Sea-bats (Platax), so called from the 

 extraordinary length of their dorsal and anal fins and of their 

 ventrals, are also remarkable members of this family. 



The Xiphiida, or Sword-fishes (Case 13), are pelagic fishes, 

 occurring in all tropical and subtropical seas. Two species are 

 objects of regular and profitable fisheries, viz. the Mediterranean 

 Sword-fish {Xiphias gladius), the flesh of which is considered to be 

 superior to that of the Tunny; and the Sword-fish of the North - 

 American coast {Histiophorus gladius) . The other species, which are 

 found in the open ocean, and endowed with extraordinary strength 

 and swimming powers, are but rarely captured, and still more rarely 

 preserved. The species found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans 

 belong to the genus Histiophorus, which is distinguished from 



Kg. 52. 



Sword-fisb. of the Indian Ocean. 



the common Mediterranean Sword-fish, or Xiphias gladius, by 

 the presence of ventral fins, which, however, are reduced to two 

 long styliform appendages. Some species have the dorsal rays 

 exceedingly elongate, so that the fin, when erected, projects beyond 

 the surface of the water : it is stated that these Sword-fishes, when 

 quietly floating with the dorsal fin erect, can sail before the wind, 



