232 THE GRAMPUS. 



frequently attack tlie true whale, — not tlie young 

 and smaller only, but even the greatest giants of the 

 deep. They bite and tear their flesh with their 

 powerful teeth ; oppose their agihty to its weight ; 

 then* number to its size; their address to its power; 

 their audacity to its strength ; thus they annoy, 

 torment, and cover with blood and wounds their 

 mighty foe. Nay more, they are stated exactly to 

 resemble so many furious mastiffs fighting with a 

 wild bull. Some seize the tail and endeavour to 

 impede its murderous blows, whilst others attack the 

 head. They seize hold of the lips and tear them 

 away ; of the tongue, and devour it ; and cease not 

 the contest till they are finally "vactorious. They 

 have received the appellation of Balamarum Tyr an- 

 nus from the accurate Fabricius, and hence their 

 popular name of whale-killers. We apprehend 

 that those bloody fights, recorded mth such minute 

 accuracy in all the works on the Cetacea, stand in 

 some need of confirmation. 



We shall next notice 



