FISHES. 639 
of the Norwegian ports, when bathing one day in the sea, was assailed 
by a shoal of mackerel. His companions came to his relief; the 
eager band were repulsed with great difficulty, but not till it was too 
late: the unfortunate sailor was so exhausted that he died a few 
hours after. By a natural law of compensation the ubiquitous 
mackerel is surrounded by numerous enemies ; the larger inhabitants 
of the ocean eagerly devour them. Certain fishes, in appearance 
very weak, such as the Murzena, fight them with great advantage. 
Fig. 399.—The Sword-fish (Xiphias gladius). 
The family XipAzide contains the Sword-fish, Xiphias gladius 
(Fig. 399), so called from the upper jaw being elongated into a 
formidable spear or sword. It was known to the ancients, and 
has borne the name which recalls its salient characteristic from 
very early times. It is recognised at a glance from its peculiar 
appearance, and from the resemblance of its prolonged horizontal 
and trenchant snout to the blade of a sword. With the ancients it 
was Fiplas, and Gladius ; with the moderns it is the Sword-fish, the 
Dart, the Spece spada, and 7 Espadon épée. 
