145 
XTPHTAS. 
The body moderately long and compressed. Upper jaw very long, 
narrow, firm, and depressed; under jaw much shorter; mouth without 
teeth. Side of the body near the tail ridged. No ventral fins; and 
on this account it is classed by Linnoeus in his order of apodal fishes. 
This family has received the name of Swordfishes from their long 
and narrow projecting snout, which is formed of the premaxillary 
bones, closely united together, and firmly articulated with the prenasal 
and maxillary or upper jaw bones. Swordfishes are divided into several 
genera, two of which, at least, are furnished with ventral fins; but 
there is only a single species which is known with certainty to visit 
our coasts Yet there is some reason to suppose that another species, 
an inhabitant of the Mediterranean, may also come to the Eritish 
Channel. Mr. Edward Chirgwin, of Newlyu, near Penzance, who was 
acquainted with most of the fishes of the western coasts of England, 
informed me that he had obtained four examples of the Swordfish, in 
three of which he found an air-bladder, the possession of which is an 
acknowledged character of the Xiphias gladius, presently to be described. 
In his other specimen this organ was not found. A fisherman also 
informed me, that while observing a Swordfish, which sprung out of 
the water at no great distance from him, besides the pectoral fins, he 
noticed fins that projected below the belly; a character of tne other 
fish of this family, {Tetrupterus Belone) which is also found in the 
Mediterranean, but not yet recorded as British. 
SWORDriSH. 
Swordfish, 
Xiphias gladius, 
JSspadon, 
Xiphias gladius, 
tf ft 
ft II 
JoNSTON; pi. 4. 'Willoughby; p. 161, 
tab. S. 27. 
Linn.®us. Cuvieb. Bloch; pi. 76. 
Kisso. Fleming; British Animals, p. 220. 
Jenvns; Manual, p. 364. 
Takbell; British Fishes, vol. i, p. 164. 
Gunthbb; Cat. Br. M., vol. ii, p. 511. 
This fish, which is not less remarkable for its habits than 
its form, is seen not unfrequently on our coasts in the summer 
and autumn, and, when with us, it shews itself as one of the 
most active of our visitors, occasionally springing above the 
VOL. II. U 
