THH SWORD -FISH. 
170 
other gradually diminifhing, till the four lalt, which a« 
gain rife higher, and give the appearance of a fecoud fin* 
The tail branches into forks, exactly refembling a cref- 
cent : There are on each fide, a little above the tail, two 
triangular protuberances, formed by the fkin, refembling 
the fpurious fins of the tunny : the peftoral fins are placed 
at the gills ; the firft ray of thefe is alfo by far the longeft, 
which gives them the appearance of a fcythe. The anus 
is placed about one third part of the body from the talk 
and below it are two anal fins connected by a common 
membrane. The fword-fiih is exceedingly voracious, 
and is a great enemy of the tunny, which difeovers its 
fear as foon as it approaches. Ovid and Belon take no- 
tice of its hoitilities againft this timid prey *. 
The fword-filli fometimes frequents the Britijh feas, 
hut is much more common in the Mediterranean ; the 
Straits of MeJJlna are particularly famous for it ; and i c 
was probably upon a promontory there, that the /pecu- 
lator es, or perfons employed to watch and give notice oi 
its approach, were Rationed. Ifyilloughby informs 
that he went himfelf to Scylta to be a fpeflator of the 1 
talian method of killing this animal 1 T.he fpies above, oU 
feeing the fword, make fignals to the boats below, direct- 
ing the failors where to fleer: As foon as the veflfel reach- 
es the fpot where the fiflbes are, one of the mot! fkilful 0* 
the filhermen gets upon a mall, ere&ed for the purport 
and direfls the boat till it comes within reach of the pa 1 
ticular fifli at which he intends to aim ; he then com eS 
doW« 
* Ac durus Xiphius, ictu non minor tnfis ; 
JJt pavidi magno fugientes agmiue Thunni. Halicut 97. 
