34 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Strength of the tail Beautiful colours. 



fish lies on one side, its blow is tremendous. 

 The tail alone it makes use of to advance itself 

 forward in the water; and it is surprising to see 

 with what force and celerity its enormous bulk 

 cuts through the ocean. The fins are only made 

 use of for turning in the water, and giving a di- 

 rection to the velocity impressed by the tail. 

 The female also makes use of them, when pur- 

 sued, to carry off her young, clapping them on 

 her back, and supporting them by the fins oi> 

 each side from falling. 



This fish varies in colour; the back of some 

 being red, the belly generally white. Others are 

 black, some mottled, others quite white. Mar- 

 tin says, " that their colours in the water arc ex- 

 tremely beautiful, and their skin is very smooth 

 and slippery." The outward, or scarf skin of the 

 'whale is not thicker than parchment; but this 

 removed, the real skin appears of about an inch 

 thick, and covering the fat or blubber that lies 

 beneath: this is from eight to twelve inches in 

 thickness ; and is, when the fish is in health, of 

 a beautiful yellow. The muscles lie beneath, 

 and these, like the flesh of quadrupeds, arc very 

 red and rough. 



It is asserted that the female courts the male, 

 and that only once in two years. Their fidelity 

 to each other exceeds that of most other ani- 

 mals, even the constancy of birds. " Some 

 fishermen," Anderson says, " having struck one 

 ef two whales, a male and a female, that were i 



