434 Fishes. 
name from its long snout resembling the blade of a sword. 
It sometimes weighs above one hundred pounds, and is 
fifteen or even twenty feet in length. The body is of a 
conical form, black on the back, white under the body ; the 
mouth large, with no teeth ; the tail is remarkably forked. 
The Sword-fish is often taken off the coast of Italy, in the 
Bay of Naples, and about Sicily. The}' are struck at by 
the fishermen, and their flesh is considered as good as 
that of the sturgeon by the Sicilians, who seem to be 
particularly fond of it. Other European seas are not 
destitute of this curious animal. 
The Sword-fish and the whale are said never to meet 
without coming to battle ; and the former has the repu- 
tation of being always the aggressor. Sometimes two 
Sword-fishes join against one whale ; in which case the 
combat is by no means equal. The whale uses his tail in 
his defence ; he dives deeply into the water, head foremost, 
and makes such a blow with his tail, that, should it take 
effect, it kills the Sword-fish at a single stroke ; but the 
latter is in general sufficiently adroit to avoid it, and im- 
mediately rushes at the whale, and buries its weapon in 
his side. When the whale discovers the Sword-fish dart- 
ing upon him, he dives to the bottom, but is closely pur- 
sued by his antagonist, who compels him again to rise to 
the surface. The battle then begins afresh, and lasts until 
the Sword-fish loses sight of the whale, who is at length 
compelled to swim off, which his superior agility enables 
him to do. In piercing the whale's body with the 
tremendous weapon at his snout, the Sword-fish seldom 
inflicts a dangerous wound, not being able to penetrate be- 
yond the blubber. This animal can drive its sword with 
such force into the keel of a ship, as to bury it wholly 
in the timber. A part of the bottom of a vessel, with 
the sword imbedded in it, is to be seen in the British 
Museum. 
