THE SWORD-FISH. 
1 69 
Genus XX. — Phe Sword-Fijh *. 
Of tliis genus there is only one fpecies, which on 
that accouut is allowed to retain the generic name of 
fword-Slh, an appellation given this animal almoll in e- 
Ver y country, and evidently derived from the peculiar 
information of the upper jaw ; it proje£ts about foui; 
'lines the length of the lower onef, is compreffed at the 
to p and bottom, and fharpened towards the point. This 
iormous fnout is three feet long, refembling a fword in 
; its fubftance is rough and hard, but by no means 
Ca pable of piercing and finking veffels in the fea, as is af- 
ktted by Pliny J. 
The fword fifih grows to a large fize, the head alone, 
t> e 'ng j n fome inftances known to weigh upwards of fe- 
Ve nty pounds §. The body is long and fleuder, thick to- 
^’ a rds the head, but tapering off into a fmall fize as it 
a Pproaches the tail : The colour above is black, and on 
tlle belly of a filvery white: The mouth is without teeth ; 
the lower jaw terminates like the upper one, in a Iharp 
Pear-l,k e point, but is greatly inferior in length: The dor- 
a ,ln takes its rife above the gills, and continues till it 
th reac h es the tail ; it is fupported by twenty-fix rays ; 
® firft of which is by far the ftrongeft and higheft, the 
VoL - Y other 
Xiphias Gladius, Lin. Syft. L’Hcron dc Mer. Belon. 
161. 
f ftro mucronata eiTe.ab hoc naves perfoffas mergi in oceano, Lib, is 
B ^.Zoo!.CIaftiv.g e n.i6. ' ” 
