668 Marvels of the Universe 
Tortoise-tribe. The first made up of irregular, closely-interlocking discs of bone; the other of 
no less closely interlocking, symmetrically-disposed plates. A glance at the accompanying photo- 
graphs should make this point clear, but it will hardly afford a solution. In the case of the Leathery 
Turtle the bony shield is covered by a leathery plate answering to the original flexible skin ; in all 
the rest of the Tortoises and Turtles this skin has developed with symmetrically-arranged plates of 
horn. Perhaps some of our readers 
may be able to read the riddle. 
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THE sea, without doubt, holds many 
stranger fishes than the Sword-fish, 
if we take as our standard of 
comparison bizarre colouring, or 
grotesqueness of shape, for example. 
But it would be difficult to find 
anywhere in the wide oceans of 
the world a finer embodiment of 
irresistible strength and undoubted 
courage, though tinged, maybe, with 
ferocity. The Sword-fish combines 
the speed of lightning with the 
driving power of a thunderbolt, as 
one might imagine from its clipper- 
built lines. 
But under this common term, 
“ Sword-fish,” are two distinct types. 
One, represented by Xiphias gladius, 
which is of almost world-wide dis- 
tribution, not even our own narrow 
seas being left unvisited ; the other, 
by the type known also as the 
“ Sail-fish ” (Histiophorus gladius). 
This is of a somewhat less wander- 
ing disposition, though since it 
haunts both Indian and _ Pacific 
Oceans its quarters can scarcely 
be called cramped! In size they 
are about equal, attaining a length 
This piece of timber has been pierced to a depth of no less than twenty- O! alone ilicen feet, wintcln jpllacss 
seven inches by the sword of one of these fishes, a fact which demonstrates them among the largest of bony 
the effective use to be made of this weapon in attacks on other fish. fishes. But it is not on a matter 
of size that the Sword-fish depends for his fame, but on the irresistible thrust of his sword. This 
weapon is fashioned out of the fore-part of the creature’s head, which is drawn out into a long, 
pointed rod, dense as ivory. No other armature does he possess, not even teeth in jaws, nor a coat 
of scale-mail to protect his glistening sides. Nature evidently thought the sword-point protection 
enough for him, and teeth are unnecessary, since his victims are swallowed whole. Cod and Tunny 
are all chased and spitted at the sword’s point with ease. They constitute the chief food of these 
THE SWORD OF THE SWORD-FISH. 
