THE COMMON WHALE. 93 



the inhabitaiits of the Arctic Regions. Some mem- 

 branes of the abdomen are used for the upper articles 

 of clothing, and the peritoneum, in particular, being 

 thin and transparent, is used instead of glass in the 

 windows of their huts ; the bones are converted into 

 harpoons and spears, for striking the seal or darting 

 at sea-birds, and are also employed in the erec- 

 tion of their tents, and, with some tribes, in the for- 

 mation of their boats ; the sinews are divided into 

 filaments, and used as thread ^^-ith which they sew, 

 with great nicety, the different articles of their dress. 



NORTHERN WHALE FISHERY. 



We should feel the more regret, that our limited 

 space will not permit us to present a detailed ac- 

 count of the commerce and adventures of the north- 

 em fishery, or that of mysticetus, if we could not 

 refer om* readers, vnih the utmost confidence on 

 these heads, to the very elaborate work of Mr. 

 Scorseby, and also to a short but masterly account, 

 brought down to the present day, in the last edition 

 of the first volume of the much esteemed work of 

 our contemporary, the Edinburgh Cabinet Library. 

 Both of these, and especially the former, are mines 

 of the most interesting and important information ; 

 and we lament we cannot more freely bring their 

 contents under the notice of om* readers. We find 



