VOYAOE OF THE GERMANIA AND HANSA. 



48 



small, long, and sharp upright back-fin, which has also 

 earned for it the name of " sword fish." These enormous 

 creatures come to the surface to take breath, and mostly 

 move in zig-zag windings along tlie top of the water, 

 so they may be seen from three to half-a-dozen times, 

 though only the upper part of their shining black bodies. 

 First the snout is to be seen, and from the " blow-hole " 

 is forced the breath and spray; then the fins and the 

 hinder parts of the back make their appearance. The 



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tail is only to be seen when the creature dives under, 

 when it is sometimes straight out of the water. The 

 name "Nordkaper" by which our sailors call it, was 

 received long ago, when it frequented the North Cape in 

 droves. The Americans call it " Killer," and the Nor- 

 wegians " Whale-catcher," from a circumstance which 

 for a Ions: time was considered a fable, but is now con- 



