VIE CA ING WITALE. 115 
of forty yards, he turned upon his back, raising his lower jaw 
to grasp the boat from above. A lance-wound, however, applied 
Sperm Whale. 
in time, caused him to close his mouth; but continuing to 
advance, he struck the boat with such force that he nearly vver- 
turned it, and concluded by again turning on his back and 
thrusting his lower jaw through the planks. Fortunately the 
other boats came up to the rescue, and an addition of many 
tons of sperm to the ship’s cargo made up for the damaged 
boat. 
Although generally only the greater cetaceans are objects of 
pursuit at sea, yet man does not disdain the capture of the 
several dolphin-species when they approach his shores, and sur- 
render themselves as it were into his hands. The intelligence 
that a shoal of ca’ing whales (Delphinus melas) has been seen 
approaching the coast, operates like an electric shock upon the 
inhabitants of the Feroe Islands. The whole village, old and 
young, is instantly in motion, and soon numerous boats push off 
from shore to surround the unsuspecting herd. Slowly and 
steadily they are driven into a bay, the phalanx of their enemies 
draws closer and closer together; terrified by stones and blows, 
they run ashore, and lie gasping as the flood recedes. Then 
begins the work of death, amid the loud rejoicings of the happy 
islanders. The visits of the ca’ing whale are extremely un- 
certain. From 1754 till 1776 scarce one was caught, but on 
the 16th of August of the last-named year more than 800 were 
