THE WHALE. 37 



Its bitter enemies. 



shoals, ot'different kinds together, and make their 

 migrations in large companies from one ocean to 

 another. 



The sword-fish, the thresher, and a kind of 

 shark, are bitter enemies to the whales, which 

 are themselves shy and timid animals, being pos- 

 sessed of no weapons of defence or offence, ex- 

 cept their tails. They are gregarious, and their 

 principal food consists of some species of crabs 

 and medusa3. There is a small animal of the 

 shell-fish kind called the whale-louse, which 

 sticks to them; and, notwithstanding all their 

 exertions to get it off, it adheres to their bodies, 

 and lives upon their fat. 



The spermaceti whale has a kind of fat called 

 spermaceti, which is found every where in the 

 body in small quantity mixed with the common 

 fat; but it is in the head that the greatest por- 

 tion is found. See Cachalot. The flesh of the 

 whale is very dry and insipid. 



The fin fish is distinguished from the common 

 whale by a fin on the back, placed very low and 

 near the tail. The length is equal to that of the 

 common kind, but much more slender. It is 

 furnished with whale-bone in the upper jaw 

 mixed with coarse hair, but short, knobby, and 

 of little value. The blubber in the body is very 

 inconsiderable; it is extremely fierce, and the 

 capture of it both difficult and dangerous, on 

 which account it is entirely neglected by the 

 fishermen, who, on its appearance, retire out of 



