THE ORDER CETACEA. 21 



respiration ; encourages it to swim off; assists its flight, 

 by taking it under her fin ; and seldom deserts it whilst 

 life remains. Then she is dangerous to approach, but 

 affords frequent opportunities for attack. She loses all 

 regard for her own personal safety, in the anxiety for 

 the preservation of her young ; dashes through the midst 

 of her enemies ; despises her threatening danger ; and 

 even voluntarily remains with her offspring, after various 

 attacks are made upon herself by the seaman's harpoon, 

 thus proving the truth of the ancient riddle's explana- 

 tion, that " a mother s love for her offspring enables 

 her to brave every danger for their support and pro- 

 tection." 



Captain Scoresby informs us, that in June, 1811, one 

 of his harpooners struck a sucker with the hope of cap- 

 turing the mother : she presently arose close to the 

 "fast-boat," and seizing the young one, dragged about 

 one hundred fathoms of line out of the boat with con- 

 siderable velocity. Again she arose to the surface, 

 furiously darted to and fro, frequently stopping short; 

 or suddenly changed her direction, exhibiting every 

 possible symptom of extreme agony. For a consider- 

 able length of time she continued thus to act, although 

 closely pursued by the boats, inspired with courage and 

 resolution ; but her concern for her offspring made her 

 regardless of the danger by which she was surrounded. 

 At length, one of the boats approached so near that the 

 harpooner was enabled to heave his harpoon at her ; it 

 hit, but did not attach itself. A second harpoon was 

 struck: this also failed to penetrate; but a third was 

 more effectually held. However, she did not attempt 

 to escape, notwithstanding her own sufferings, still 

 clinging to her offspring ; for she allowed the other boats 

 to approach, so that in a few minutes three more har- 



