BOOK OP NATURE LAID OPEN. 151 



fion of the tide, they were entirely enclosed. The 

 people on shore beheld their situation, and drove 

 down upon them in boats, with such weapons as 

 could be hastily collected. The animals were soon 

 severely wounded, and the sea tinged with their 

 blood. After several attempts to escape, the old one 

 forced over the shallow into the depths of the ocean; 

 but, though in safety herself, she could not bear the 

 danger that awaited her young one; she therefore 

 rushed in once more where the smaller animal was 

 confined, and, as she could not carry it off, seemed 

 resolved to share its danger. The tide, however, 

 coming in, both were enabled to escape from their 

 enemies, after sustaining a number of wounds. 



The fidelity of whales to each other is also said 

 to exceed even what we observe in birds ; and Gold- 

 smith relates an instance, in which a female whale 

 being wounded while her attached partner was re- 

 clining by her side, on beholding the object of his ten- 

 derness fulling a victim to the harpooners, he stretch- 

 ed himself on her body, and participated in her fate. 



It is curious to remark what sagacity the finny 

 tribes display in seeking out the most proper places 

 for depositing their spawn. The Salmon on her 

 journey up the river, will suffer no obstacle that she 

 can possibly surmount to oppose her progress to the 

 place of her destination ; and in order to attain it, 

 will spring over cataracts several feet high. In 

 going upwards she will keep at the bottom where 

 the current is weakest, and when she returns, will 

 avail herself of its strength at the top, by swimming 

 near its surface ! 



