Beluga. 



i8a S E A A P E. 



the upper lobe the longed : the body covered with thick, hair, grey 

 on the back, reddifli on the belly. It feemed deftitute of feet. 



It was extremely wanton, and played a multitude of monkey- 

 tricks. It fometimes fwam on one fide, fometimes on the other fide 

 of the fhip, and gazed at it with great admiration. It made fo near 

 an approach to the veflel, as almoft to be touched with a pole; but 

 if any body moved, it inftantly retired. It would often ftand ere£t 

 for a confiderable fpace, with one-third of its body above water ; 

 then dart beneath the fliip, and appear on the other fide ; and repeat 

 the fame thirty times together. It would frequently arife with a fea- 

 plant, not unlike the Bottle-gourd, tofs it up, and catch it in its 

 mouth, playing with it numberlefs fantaftic tricks *. 



On animals of this Ipecies the fable of the Sirens might very well 

 be founded. 

 Sea I fliall conclude this article with a recantation of what I fay in the 



357th page of my Synopfis, relating to the Beluga; which I now find 

 was colleded, by the author I cite, from the reports of Cojfacks, and 

 ignorant fifhermen. The animal proves at laft to be one of the 

 cetaceous tribe, of the genus of Dolphin, and of a fpecies called by 

 the Germans fVit-Fifchy and by the Ruffians Beluga f ; both fignifying 

 "White fifh : but to this the laft add Morjkaia, or of the/ea, by way of 

 diftinguiftiing it from a fpecies of Sturgeon fo named. It is com- 

 mon in all the ArElic feas j and forms an article of commerce, being 

 taken on account of its blubber. They are numerous in the gulph 

 of St. Lawrence I and go with the tide as high as ^ebec. There 

 are fifheries for them, and the common Porpejfe, in that river. A 

 confiderable quantity of oil is extrafted ; and of their fkins is made 

 a fort of Morocco leather, thin, yet ftrong enough to refift a mufquet- 

 ball J. They are frequent in tht Dwina and the O-Jy; and go in 

 fmall families from five to ten, and advance pretty far up the rivers 

 in purfuit of fifli. They are ufually caught in nets; but are fomc- 



• Hijl. Kami/chat ka, 136. 



■j- Pallas, Itin. iii. 84. tab. iv. CranlzGrienl, i. 1 1 4. Purchases Pilgrims, nl. 549. 



J Charlevoix, v. 217. 



times 



