THE ORDER CETACEA. 



53 



Previous to the time of the 

 elder Captain Scoresby, cap- 

 tains or harpooners on watch, 

 at the mast head, were only 

 protected from the inclemency 

 of the weather by a bit of can- 

 vass ; but, this being found ex- 

 tremely inconvenient, this gen- 

 tleman constructed what is 

 technically called " the Crow's 

 Nest," which is as simple as 

 ingenious, consisting merely of 

 a species of sentry-box, made of 

 light wood in the shape of a 

 cask, having a seat in the mid- 

 dle, and a species of trap-door 

 in the floor; this is provided 

 with a telescope, a speaking- 

 trumpet, and a signal instru- 

 ment of this shape, denomi- 

 nated 



THE YONDER. 



CROW S NEST. 



This signal instrument (the yonder), is simply a hoop, 

 with canvass stretched across, and attached to a handle 

 about four feet long ; sometimes a fowling-piece, with a 

 bag of shot and a horn of powder. Thus furnished, it 

 is placed on the main-top-mast, and main-top- gallant- 

 mast-head, many vessels having them on the fore-top- 

 gallant-mast-head. This is the post of honour, and I 



