190 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



annual visit is generally paid by this species of the whale 

 tribe to the island of Lewis, and, besides being profitable 

 when captured, generally furnish a source of consider- 

 able amusement. On the present occasion, the whole 

 inhabitants of the place, both male and female, assembled 

 to the scene of slaughter, where they were evidently de- 

 lighted spectators at the scene of death ! and occasion- 

 ally rendered assistance. It is to be lamented, however, 

 that a young sailor received a stroke from the tail of the 

 largest of the whales, and but little hopes are enter- 

 tained of his recovery."* 



GENUS VIII. 

 DELPHINAPTERUS. 



SPECIES.— DELPHINAPTERUS BELUGA, 



OK 



THE WHITE WHALE t 



This is a species which appears not to have been very 

 distinctly known until within the last half century. It is 

 a native of the Northern Seas, the Arctic Icy Sea, and 

 especially in Hudson's Bay, and Davis's Straits. When 



* It is to be regretted that the Editor of the Caledonian Mercury did 

 not give his readers any idea of the dimensions of these creatures, or the 

 amount they sold for, and the quantity of oil they produced. 



Since the above, the newspapers have recorded several similar shoals 

 of this species of the Genus Delphinus. 



t Synonyme — The Beluga JVhale of Pennant and Shaw. 



