36 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Maternal attection. 



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 resolved, when 

 she could not protect, at least to share its dan- 

 ger. The tide, however, coming in, enabled 

 both to escape from their enemies, though not 

 without sustaining an infinite number of wounds 

 in every part." Waller has introduced this anec- 

 dote in his Summer Islands, of which the motto 

 to the present chapter fonns a part. 



The young one continues at the breast for a 

 year, during which time, they are called by the 

 sailors, short-heads. They are then extremely 

 fat, and yield above fifty barrels of blubber. 

 The mother at the same time is equally lean and 

 emaciated. At the age of two years they are 

 called stunts, as they do not thrive much imme- 

 diately after quitting the breast; they then yield 

 scarce above twenty or twenty-four barrels of 

 blubber: from that time forward they are called 

 sheill-tish,and their age is wholly unknown. 



Every species of whale propagates only with 

 those of its kind, and does not at all mingle with 

 the rest; however, they are generally seen in 



