232 THE GRAMPUS. 



frequently attack the true whale, not the young 

 and smaller only, hut even the greatest giants of the 

 deep. They hite and tear their flesh with their 

 powerful teeth ; oppose their agility to its weight ; 

 their numher 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 hull. 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 victorious. They 

 have received the appellation of Balcenarum Tyran- 

 nies from the accurate Fabricius, and hence their 

 popular name of whale-killers. TVe apprehend 

 that those bloody fights, recorded with such minute 

 accuracy in all the works on the Cetacea, stand in 

 some need of confirmation. 



We shall next notice 



