90 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



returns with extreme force, rebounding and elevating 

 its caudal fins, and, feeling its danger, becomes dread- 

 fully furious, attacking the nearest boats, and with a 

 single blow of the tail will sometimes destroy them; 

 or, if it is compelled to yield to superior physical 

 strength, it then endeavours to escape, dragging with 

 it the harpoons, which, when successfully transfixed, 

 it will draw even a thousand fathoms of thick cordage 

 after it ; and in spite of this immense weight, which is as 

 inconvenient as it is heavy, it swims with such rapidity 

 that the sailors in the boats can scarcely support them- 

 selves, without feeling a sense of suffocation. 



The Norwegians run less risk in capturing this animal ; 

 for, when it gets into the little bays terminating in a large 

 lake in their coasts, they then enclose the lake by nets 

 formed of the rind of trees, thus destroying the whale 

 without having the trouble and danger of fighting with 

 it.* 



Duhamel du Monceau informs us he was assured 

 that the blubber from the Nord Caper was devoid of the 

 disagreeable properties which have been attributed to 

 that from the baleena mysticetus. 



* Sir Arthur de Capell Brooke states that he saw the skeleton of a 

 whale on the top of a stupendous high mountain called " Sandhorn," near 

 Gilleshall, in Norway, the height of which exceeds 3000 feet, and the 

 south side of it descends nearly perpendicular to the sea. In all proba- 

 bility this Zootomical specimen has remained there since the period of 

 the deluge, when it was deposited, which is now more than 4000 years ! 

 No other conjecture I think can be formed than this, and it is wonderful 

 that these bones should have remained for such a period of time. — The 

 marine remains in the neighbourhood confirm this supposition. — The 

 species is not ascertained, but from its locality I should suppose it to be 

 the Nord Caper. Vide " Travels in Norway," &c. 237. 



" On the top of the Fugelbe Mountain, according to the accounts of the 

 fowlers, who had often seen it, are the remains of a whale, lying in the 

 same manner as on the mountain of Sandhorn." Ibid. p. 331. 



