CURIOUS CREATURES. 



217 



We have the saying, " Throw a tub to the Whale," and 

 we not only find that it is the proper treatment to con- 



ciliate Physeters, but Gesner shows us the real thing 

 applied to Whales, trumpet and all complete, and he also 

 shows us the close affinity between the Whale and the 



Physeter, in the accompanying illustration, which depicts 

 a whale uprearing, and coming down again on an unfor- 

 tunate vessel. 



There is another Whale, described by Gesner, which 

 he calls the " Trol " whale, or in German, " Teufelwal," 

 or Devil Whale. This whale lies asleep on the water, 

 and is of such a deceptive appearance that seamen 

 mistake it for an island, and cast anchor into it, a 

 proceeding which this peculiar class of whale does not 



