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NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Battles between the sword fish and whale. 



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at the sight of this animal seems agitated in an 

 extraordinary manner, leaping from the water as 

 if with affright; wherever it appears, the whale 

 perceives it at a distance, and flies from it in the 

 opposite direction. The whale has no instrument 

 of defence except its tail, with which it endea- 

 vors to strike the enemy, and a single blow taking 

 place would effectually destroy its adversary ; but 

 the sword fish is as active as the other is strong, 

 and easily avoids the stroke; then bounding into 

 the air, it falls upon its enemy, and endeavors 

 not to pierce with its pointed beak, but to cut it 

 with its toothed edges. The sea all about is soon 

 dyed with blood, proceeding from the wounds of 

 the whale; while the enormous animal vainly 

 endeavors to reach its invader, and strikes with 

 its tail against the surface of the water, making 

 a report at each blow louder than the noise of a 

 cannon. 



The sword fish, however, in piercing the 

 whale's body with his tremendous weapon, sel- 

 dom does any great damage to the animal, not 

 being able to penetrate much beyond the blub- 

 ber. 



THE THREE-SPINED STICKLEBACK, 

 or PRICK LEBACK. 



THIS species of the sticklebacks seldom ex- 

 ceeds two inches in length, and is very common 



