146 
SWORDFISH. 
surface; an action supposed to be caused by the irritation it 
suffers from the torment inflicted by a parasitic animal that 
sometimes pierces through the skin beneath the pectoral fins. 
It is probable, however, that this leaping above the surface, 
which has been witnessed by our fishermen, is frequently to 
be attributed to a wanton exuberance of spirits; and although 
many instances are recorded of the capture of this fish in 
Britain, we are not acquainted with one in which the attention 
of observers has been drawn to the presence of this supposed 
enemy. 
I have several times been told by fishermen that this fish 
has shewn itself near their boats; and it appears surprising 
that it is not more frequently taken, since its well-known 
swiftness may be judged likely to cause it to become entangled 
in the floating nets which, in the season of its visits, are 
spread along the whole extent of our waters. But the only 
instance of its capture in this way, that has come to my 
knowledge, was in October, 1861, when an example became 
entangled in some drift-nets, about two miles from the Wolf 
Rock, near the Land’s End. The larger number have heen in 
scans near the land, at a time when its wandering disposition 
has brought it into shallower water than its usual habits would 
have rendered likely. According to A31ian, when thus enclosed 
in a scan, it often succeeds in delivering itself from the danger 
by means of its sword-like snout, which tears the meshes, and 
sets free the Tunnies as well as itself. 
Its general safety must be ascribed to instinctive vigilance; 
for we can scarcely ascribe it to fear when we know it to be 
a portion of the character of this fish to assault with violence 
the mighty bulk of a Whale, when chance may bring them in 
sight of each other. That the Swordfish has been seen not 
unfrequently to do this has been long asserted by sailors, 
although doubted or disbelieved by some who were not in 
circumstances to be able to form a satisfactory opinion upon 
the subject. But instances of this nature have been so often 
warranted by men who, although not acquainted with natural 
history as a science, were practically accurate observers, that 
no reasonable ground of disbelief can be permitted to remain, 
although the motive which leads to such forcible display of 
enmity must remain beyond our power to imagine. In the 
