THE WHALE. 131 



stopped short, or suddenly changed her direction, 

 and gave every possible intimation of extreme agony. 

 For a length of time she continued thus to act, 

 though closely pursued by the boats; and, inspired 

 with courage and resolution by the concern for her 

 offspring, seemed regardless of the danger which sur- 

 rounded her. At length one of the boats approached 

 so near that a harpoon was hove at her. It hit, but 

 did not attach itself. A second harpoon was struck; 

 this also failed to penetrate; but a third was more 

 effectual, and held. Still she did not attempt to 

 escape; but allowed other boats to approach; so 

 that, in a few minutes, three more harpoons were 

 fastened; and, in the course of an hour afterwards, 

 she was killed. 



There is something extremely painful in the de- 

 struction of a whale, when thus evincing a degree 

 of affectionate regard for its offspring, that would do 

 honour "to the superior intelligence of human beings; 

 yet the object of the adventure, the value of the 

 prize, the joy of the capture, can not be sacrificed 

 to feelings of compassion. Whales, though often 

 found in great numbers together, can scarcely be 

 said to be gregarious; found most generally solitary, 

 or in pairs, excepting when drawn to the same spot, 

 by the attraction of an abundance of palatable food, 

 or a choice situation of the ice. 



The superiority of the sexes, in point of numbers, 

 seems to be in favour of the male. Of 124 whales 

 which have been taken near Spitzbergen, in eight 



