54 OF CETACEOUS FISHES. 



on every fide ; and the people from the ftiore obferving 

 that they had no means left of efcape, poured down upon 

 them in boats, armed with fuch weapons as the urgent 

 occafion cfFered. After feveral ineffectual attempts, to 

 efcape, the mother at laft, by her fuperior ftrength, forced 

 herfelf over the ihallow into deep water : But though in 

 fafety herfelf, fhe could not bear the danger that awaited 

 her young one j fhe therefore rulhed in once more where 

 the fmaller animal was inclofed, and refolved, when (be 

 could not proteft, at leaft to (hare its danger. Happily 

 for the fafety of thefe animals, the rapid infet of the tide 

 foon enabled both to efcape from their enemies, though 

 not till they had received many wounds, and tinged the 

 fea all around with their blood. 



It is, however, but for a fhort period that the young 

 Vv'hales (land in need of this parental afiiilance : Their 

 growth is fo remarkably rapid, thjit it may occafion fome 

 doubt concerning the accoimts that are given of their ex- 

 traordinary longevity. The cubs continue at the breaft, 

 of the mother only for a year, during Vvfhich period they 

 attain to a confiderable fize, and are called Jhort-heads 

 by the failors. The mother, at the end of that period, is 

 extremely lean and emaciated, while her cub is fo large 

 and fat, that it frequently yields above fifty barrels of 

 blubber. 1 he next year after they have left the breaft, 

 they are called JIunts ; becaufe they decreafe in their 

 fatnefs, and yield fcarcely an half of the produce that is 

 obtained from them when fuckling. After two years the 

 young whales are CdXled Jkull Jijh ; and though for a while 

 they continue of an inferior fize, there is no mark by 

 which their age can be afcertained. 



Though the whales are gregarcous animals, yet every 



individual 



