A RAKE CETACEAlSr. 6 



eyes and thoughts were continually turning, we saw, 

 more and more frequently, that little mimic ship, that 

 sailors delight to call the Portuguese man-of-war 

 {Physalisa pelagica), floating and tossing upon the 

 waves. Some of these appeared to me unusually 

 beautiful (though I have on former occasions seen 

 them in great numbers, once, in the Gulf, being 

 nearly a whole day traversing a fleet of them), the 

 " sail " being of a rich rosy pink hue, and the bladder, 

 or " hull," glittering in the sun with a glassy bril- 

 liancy. 



An occurrence of much more zoological interest, 

 however, the sight of a veiy rare, if not quite new, 

 Cetacean, under circumstances peculiarly favourable 

 to observation, demands a more protracted notice. 

 Having been familiar with several species of Del- 

 phinidcs in former Atlantic voyages, I had taken for 

 granted that I should meet with some in this ; and 

 wishing to settle the question whether any of the 

 true Dolphins spout, I had studied the Order a little 

 before sailing ; and, in particular, had made careful 

 sketches of the form of the head in all the genera, 

 that I might not depend on that treacherous guide, 

 memory. 



November 22d. — La't. at noon 19° 1^ N., long. 

 45° 42' W. ; the trade wind blowing a most exhila- 

 rating breeze, with fine weather. Between three 

 and four o'clock p.m., a herd of large Cetaceans ap- 

 peared astern, trooping towards the ship. They 

 soon came up and began to play around us, con- 

 tinuing to romp and frolic, in the manner of Dol- 



B 2 



