ZOOLOGY. 101 



men, to examine this great natnxal curiosity, the " sword " 

 or bony spear of the X. gladius was found to have pene- 

 trated the larboard quarter of the vessel, within two or 

 three feet of the stern post, passing through the copper 

 sheathing — an outer planking of pitch pine If inch thick, 

 the centre of a cedar timber 5 iaches thick by' 6 wide, and 

 lastly through the ceiling of pitch pine 1 J inch in thick- 

 ness. The weapon was nearly at a right angle with the 

 keel, and pointed slightly upwards, the extremity projeet- 

 iag on the inside exactly ten inches beyond the woodwork. 

 The point had evidently been broken off in the collision, 

 leaving a jagged surface equal in size to the end of the 

 little finger. 



When the schooner had discharged her cargo, the 

 " sword " was removed by cuttijag away the woodwork 

 which surrounded it. It was dark brown in colour ; mea- 

 sured 17| inches to the fractured base, and 5| inches in 

 circimiference at the thickest part, and was split from the 

 base to within about four inches of the smaller end. The 

 upper surface was rough and granulated, resembling course 

 sandpaper to the touch, and the sides exhibited a still 

 rougher exterior. The under side was smooth and horn- 

 like in appearance ; the form not round, but oval ; the 

 upper and lower surfaces being of the greatest breadth. 

 The smooth, or under side, was faced towards the bows of 

 the vessel 



Yarrell mentions a dead sword fish found on the Essex 

 coast in 1834, which was ten feet long, and ■ of which the 

 sword measured three feet. This rule of proportion would 

 give five feet as the probable length of the "Earl Dun- 

 donald " specimen. 



