OF CETACEOUS FISHES. 



47 



the foverelgnty of the ocean : On the contrar}-, as it is 

 a peaceable and inoiFenilve animal, it has many ene- 

 mies difpofed to take advantage of its difpofition, and 

 inaptitude for combat *. There is a fmall animal of the 

 teflaceous kind, called the whale-loufe, that flicks to its 

 body, as we fee fhells flick to the foul bottom of a fliip. 

 This creature infinuates itfelf chiefly under the fins ; and, 

 in defiance of all the efforts of the whale, it ftill keeps 

 its hold, and lives upon the fat, which it is provided with 

 inftruments to extraft. The filliermen, however, often wit-. 

 nefs the encounters of the whale with a much more terrible 

 enemy. At the fight of the fword-filh, this largeft of 

 animals is feen agitated in an extraordinary manner, and 

 leaping from the water as if with fear. Wherever it 

 appears, the whale perceives it at a diftance, and flies 

 from it in the oppofite direftion. The whale has no in- 

 .ftrument of defence except the tail : with that it endea- 

 vours to ftrike the enemy ; and a Angle blow taking 

 place, would effedlually deftroy the adverfary : But the 

 fword-fifli is as aftive as the other is fl:rong, and eafily 

 avoids the flroke ; then bounding into the air, it falls 

 upon its fubjacent enemy, and endeavours, not to pierce 

 with its pointed beak, but to cut with its edges. The 

 fea all about is feen dyed with blood, proceeding from 

 the wounds of the whale ; while the enormous animal 

 vainly endeavours to reach its invader, and ftrikes with 

 its tail againft the furface of the water, making a report 

 at each blow louder than the noife of a cannon f . 



A' ftill more fatal enemy of the whale, is an animal of 

 its own order, called by the fifliermen of New England 

 the killer. Of ferocious habits, and furniflied with ftrong 



flaarp 



' G<ildfmith. f Anderfon's Diiiionary of Commerce. 



