OF CETACEOUS FISHES. 43 



ty feet In length, and about twenty in breadth : Even thefe, 

 however, mull appear enormous to the fpe6lator, and, 

 "when firft beheld rifing from the deep, mufl have flruck 

 him with aftonifhment and tevror. Thofe who frequent 

 the northern ocean, to whom the frequency of the fight 

 has rendered it lefs tremenduous, muft enjoy a magnifi- 

 cent fpe(ftacle in beholding fuch an enormous animated 

 mafs tumbling amidft the waves, and darting through 

 the water with incredible velocity I Such wonders does 

 Nature prefent in an element where her operations are 

 but partially known ; perhaps llie has flill greater won- 

 ders concealed in the deep, which we have had no op- 

 portunities of exploring. The whales are obliged to ihew 

 themfelves upon the furface, in order to take breath : bat 

 who knows the fize of thofe animals that are fitted to re- 

 main for ever under water ; and that have been increaf- 

 ing in magnitude for centuries *. 



Though we now fee no whales two hundred, and two 

 hundred and fifty feet, which we have good reafon to be- 

 lieve was the cafe two centuries ago, ft ill the fize of this 

 order of beings is fufficient to diilinguifh them from all 

 the reft of the animal kingdom. It is probable, indeed, 

 from ikeletons that have been found at different times, 

 that there once exifted terrcftrial animals of much great- 

 er bulk than are to be found at prefent. Creatures of 

 fuch an immenfc fize muft have i-equired a proportion- 

 able extent of ground for fubfiftence ; and by being 

 rivals with the human race for large territory, they mufl 

 have been deftroyed in the conteft, A fimilar caufe has 



E 2 diminifiied 



* The fea-ferpent, orkraken. is fald to be fevcral miles in circumfe- 

 rence, and to appear like a fmall ifland. To believe all fuch relations 

 would be credulity ; but to deny their pofiibility, would be prcfumption. 

 .Guldfmith's Nat. Hilt. vol. VI. 



