314 THE WORLD OF ANIMAL LIFE 



sword-fish have been known to attack a whale, and succeed in 

 stabbing it to death. 



But nothing could show the strength of the sword-fish better 

 than the way in which it drives its sword into the bottom of a ship. 

 In the British Museum you may see a plank taken from the side of 

 a ship in which is embedded the sword of one of these fish. The 

 weapon has been driven through twenty-two inches of the wood. 

 Think now what force it would require to put a bolt through a 

 plank of the same thickness. It is surmised that sword-fish in 

 attacking ships mistake them for whales. 



The sword-fish is sometimes caught in nets set for other fish, 

 but in some countries the capturing of these creatures is quite an 

 industry. The fishermen go out in boats which have a little 

 platform at the bow. On this platform a man stands with a 

 harpoon in his hand, which he throws at any sword-fish that may 

 come near enough. The fish is thus killed by its own method. 



Sword-fishes are not a numerous family, but they attain to a 

 large size, reaching fifteen feet in length. 



FLYING-FISH (Family ScOMBRESOClD.ai) 



When a ship is sailing through tropical or sub-tropical seas its 

 occupants may suddenly see a whole shoal of fish rise out of the 

 sea, and travel through the air for a considerable distance, glistening 

 in the sun like burnished silver. These little creatures are known 

 as Flying-Fish, although they do not really fly. They leap from 

 the sea, and skim over the waves by the aid of the very long wing- 

 like fins with which they are provided. In one single leap the 

 flying-fish is said to travel a distance of three hundred yards, only 

 touching the water occasionally to wet its fins, and to bound forward 

 with a fresh impetus. It does not, however, fly in this way for the 

 sake of amusement, but probably in order to escape from fishes 

 or dolphins, which prey upon it. Often, however, its attempts to 

 escape are in vain; while it may gain a short respite from its 

 enemies in the water, it is often pounced upon by sea-birds as it 

 flies through the air, but it doubtless often baffles both the sea- 



