X ADVERTISEMENT. 



upwards of a hundred feet, and a weiglit of nearly 

 as many tons; — that some of the genera swarm 

 beneath the perennial ice of either pole, whilst 

 others display their glowing hues within the tropics ; 

 and when to this we add, that in the pursuit of 

 some of them, large navies are annually equipped 

 by the most enterprising nations, and many a bold 

 and adventurous seaman perils his life in the arctic 

 seas, or nearly circumnavigates the globe, — no one 

 we apprehend can doubt that the present subject is 

 invested with the highest possible interest. 



We have devoted a chapter of this Volume to 

 the singular stmcture and economy of the tribe : 

 and -^ve have then dwelt more particularly upon the 

 Greenland Whale, upon the adventures and dangers 

 attendant upon its capture, and on the products 

 and history of the Northern Whale Fishery. We 

 have done the same in relation to the Spermaceti 

 Whale, and concerning the products and peculiari- 

 ties of the South Sea Fishery. Nor have we for- 

 gotten a larger Whale than either, the Rorqual, in 

 viewing which we contemplate by far the greatest 

 giant of all presently-existing creatures. From 

 these mighty monsters we descend to the smaller 

 kinds, some of v»^hich ai'e found in every sea, in- 

 cluding the Sea-unicorn and the Grampus, the 

 Dolphins and Porpoises. These altogether extend 

 to nearly twenty distinct genera, which have in all 

 ages peculiarly provoked the curiosity of mankind, 

 as they continue to do without abatement to the 

 present day. We have endeavoured, to the full 



