THE ORDER CETACEA. 109 



not but with the death of one of the combatants. Mar- 

 tens relates an account of one of these combats between 

 the Iceland whale {Balcena Icelandica) and the sword- 

 fish. It seemed to be extremely dangerous to approach 

 the field of battle. It was, therefore, at some distance 

 that he saw them pursuing and striking each other, 

 dealing such violent blows, that the water rose in foam 

 as if agitated by a storm. He was prevented seeing the 

 issue of the fight by the weather becoming thick and 

 hazy ;* but he was informed by the sailors, that such 

 combats were frequent; that they generally kept at a 

 distance till the whale was vanquished; and that the 

 sword-fish, only eating the tongue, relinquished the rest 

 of the body, which they take possession of, and I need 

 hardly say, are glad to obtain it. 



Forskal informs us, that the Arabians believe that 

 some species of the scams, a fish found in the Red Sea, 

 enter the spiracles of the whale, and destroy it with 

 their sharp spines ; and, in confirmation of this fact, it 

 is mentioned, that one of these fishes was found in the 

 spiracles of a dead whale. 



The whale is even harassed with aquatic birds, which 

 alight in great numbers on his back, in search of the 

 testaceous animals and small insects, which have made 

 it their habitation. And like most other animals the 

 whale is tormented with a species of louse (Oniscus 

 Ceti. Linn.), peculiar to itself, which adheres so 

 strongly to the skin, that it will sooner be torn asunder 

 than be compelled to let go its hold. The fins, the 

 lips, the parts of generation, and other parts of the 

 body which are most protected from friction, are chiefly 

 infested with this parasitical insect. The bite is ex- 



* Vide page 89. 



