278 NIMBOD OF THE SEA; OR, 



110° W., we find bull whales again, frequently whole schools 

 of young bulls without a cow among them. StUl farther 

 east, or in long. 90° W., we find schools of cows, accom- 

 panied by the bull whales. Near Japan, and off New Zea- 

 land, very large whales abound. 



As I have bestowed some attention on the pigs of the 

 ship, it is proper that mention should be made of other an- 

 imals who share our wandering life. We have two cats of 

 the species called Tom. The one rules the cabin and the 

 other the forecastle mice ; while 'tween decks is the dark 

 and bloody ground where both join in nightly brawls and 

 caterwauls. The fine sense of smell in the cat is well shown 

 by their detecting the presence of flying-fish in the chains. 

 Almost immediately after these fish strike the side or deck 

 of the ship the cat will come from below, and, by its mo- 

 tions, persuade us to climb over the rail and get the stunned 

 fish for a meal, it being understood that the flying-fish that 

 come on board are the cat's perquisites. Except in fine 

 sunny weather, when there is no spray to wet the deck, our 

 mousers rarely venture on deck, and below they have rather 

 a miserable time, between the oil and the tar. 



Senora Villamill's monkey is the mischief-maker of the 

 ship. He delights in tormenting the cats, and spends much 

 time in watching the nesting of our two game-hens. His 

 idea of supreme bliss seems to be to bury his comical face 

 in the broken end of an egg, and we find amusement in ob- 

 serving his calculated movements to gratify this taste. He 

 has closely studied fowl nature, and knows to a minute the 

 time and place of the precious deposit; and in spite of the 

 watchfulness of the steward, captain, and chanticleer, every 

 now and again he may be seen running up a stay, with an 

 egg deftly carried under one arm, to be deliberately emptied 

 of its contents in. some inaccessible part of the rigging. It 

 has been a favorite game of the tailless monkeys against the 



