OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



397 



cupadon the trochus often continues for days, and even weeks, be- 

 fore the life of the animal attacked is fully extinguitlied. The ope- 

 ration of the trochus may be feen in the (hells of many oyfters 

 mufcles, and other (hell-fifhes; for their fhells are often pierced with 

 a number of circular holes. 



The amazing fize and ftrength of the whale, one fhould imagine, 

 would fecure it from the infults of every other animal. But, befide 

 the annual depredations made by man upon the cetaceous tribes 

 they are often attacked and killed by the fword-fifli. The fnout of 

 this comparatively fmall animal is armed with a long, hard, projec- 

 tion of bone, each edge of which is furnifhed with a number of 

 ftrong, flat, and ftiarp points, or teeth, fome of which, efpecially near 

 the fnout, are an inch and a half in length. With this inftrument 

 the fword-fifh boldly attacks the whale. I have often had the plea- 

 fure, fays Pere Labat *, of feeing their combats. The whale has no 

 other defence but its tail, with which it endeavours to ftrike its an- 

 tagonift. But, as the fword-fifh is more adtive and nimble than the 

 whale, he eafily parries the blow by fpringing into the air, and re- 

 newing the attack with his faw-like inftrument. Whenever he fuc- 

 ceeds, the fea is dyed red with the blood ifTuing from the wound. 

 The fury of the whale appears from the vehemence with which it 

 lafhes the waters, each ftroke refounding like the report of a can- 

 non. 



Many fmall birds, and particularly the wren and the tit-moufe, 

 may be feen, during the winter-feafon, pecking at the buds and 

 branches of trees in our gardens. To thefe little animals Nature has 

 entrufted the charge of preventing the noxious multiplication of 

 thofe worms which feed upon fruits. Nature, as far as we are able 



to 



* Nouv. Voyage, torn. 6. pag. ijo. 



