97 ¢ 
278 THE REV. THEODORE WOOD, F.E.S. 
blubber; but I can understand that the blow would necessarily 
cause the animal to quiver from head to tail, not from any sense of 
pain, but from the simple mechanical effect of the stroke on a semi- 
solid mass. And this, I think, amply accounts for the “sickening 
throb” to which Dr. Walker refers. 
I possess records of several cases in which whales have been 
killed by thrashers, but in every instance the assailants were 
assisted by sword-fish, which were apparently by far the more 
formidable of the two. 
With reference to the theological aspect of the question. I pur- 
posely abstained from entering thereon on this occasion. Of course 
we all grant, as Christians, that, God being beneficent, there can be no 
cruelty in Nature ; but ina Paper of this description it is necessary 
to meet the unbeliever on his own grounds, and we must show from 
facts in Nature that cruelty does not exist.. For our own part, we 
can understand without proofs of this kind; but with an unbeliever 
one must try toconfute his statements from facts in Nature. I 
thank you sincerely for the kind way in which you have listened 
to my remarks. 
The Meeting was then adjourred. 
