72 The Rorquals 



as if the worst ot his enemies are removed, for he is too 

 agile to be caught, and too large to be gobbled up if 

 caught, by his fierce cousin the Orca. If one could 

 judge of the mental condition of animals by their facial 

 expression, it would be quite natural to suppose that 

 the Black Fish was a creature of sunny disposition and 

 one whose lines had fallen in pleasant places, for he has 

 an innocent smiling expression, owing to the peculiar 

 shape of the mouth and the profile that is almost ludi- 

 crous to see. But I confess that when first I saw it I 

 did not think it ludicrous, I rather felt that it was a 

 shame that such a jolly-looking animal should be chased 

 and killed for the sake of getting a few gallons of oil out 

 of him. 



