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the white tops by a dingy red, and at the base of the ventrals 
is a yellowish patch. The head is greatly depressed in centre 
and above the eyes. These have a curious fold below them, 
which can be raised over the whole eye. A few pores lie on 
the snout, ranged thickly above the orbit of the eyes and form 
a band across the top of the head. The mouth does not shew 
in profile. There are 5 gills opening, the 2 last very small, 
and above the Pectorals. The Caudal of this shark turns up 
and when exactly in profile the top is on a level with the tip 
of the 2nd Dorsal. The young one is of a silky silvery grey 
but had a dark spot on Caudal and 2nd Id. which the mother 
has not. 
“ My grand prize is a Iiistiopliorus or sword fish. It is I 
believe the Xiphias plati/pterus of Shaw and the Iiistiopliorus 
r/Jndius of Lacepede. Shaw calls all Swordfishes Xiphias but 
Gunther divides them into Xiphias and Histiophorus, the 
latter with ventrals, the former without. My specimen is S 
feet 9 inches long from tip of snout to centre of tail, (*) the pro- 
duced snout measuring 14 inches ! but unfortunately the men 
had cut off all the fins so I could not compare it with mine, 
which I am sorry for as the head was so different ; I wished 
much to see if it was from age or really a different species. 
The II. (jladius is characterised by the head rising up straight 
to the base of the Dorsal, and the height of the latter. The 
size of this fin and its great disproportion to the body will be 
seen when I say that the greatest depth of the body, which is 
at the shoulder, is only 15 inches, while the Dorsal is 19 in- 
ches on 1st ray and it rises at the 15th to 32 inches, diminish- 
again to a single inch at the last ray. At its base lies a socket 
capable of containing the whole fin, the ventrals also have 
a similar socket and the curious thoracic appendages have one 
extending to the vent. One would wonder of what use are 
these latter, possibly as they float about in the water they 
may serve to attract prey. 
“ The general colour of the body is silvery grey with 
brownish blotches, a blackish blue tint on the Dorsal socket. 
The grand Dorsal is dark mottled grey, brownish near the tips, 
with a deep blue tint at base, and large black round stops over 
the greatest part of the membrane. 
“ Instead of scales on the skill, singular dermal productions 
cover the body under the skin, which is so thin that they break 
(*) This is I find only a small fish, for I have seen one in the mar- 
ket since measuring 20 feet ! 
