TREATISE ON FLY-FISHING. 31 



alone leaves the nest in search of food, the other 

 remaining sitting upon the eggs or the young ones ; 

 but when two go out together, the weather is 

 warm and mild, and thus favorable to fishing. 



I shall dismiss Sir H. Davie for the present, 

 with the following remarks which he offers on the 

 whale, as they may be interesting to those who 

 have remarked the comparatively easy capture of 

 an animal, possessed of such enormous strength 

 and activity. 



The whale, having no air-bladder, can sink to 

 the lowest depths of the ocean ; and mistaking the 

 harpoon for the teeth of the sword fish or a shark, 

 he instantly descends, this being his manner of 

 freeing himself from these enemies, who cannot 

 bear the pressure of a deep ocean : and from 

 ascending and descending, in a small space, he 

 puts himself in the power of the whaler; whereas, 

 if he knew his force, and were to swim on the 

 surface in a straight line, he would break or 

 destroy the machinery by which he is arrested^ 



