THE MISSOURIUM. 17 
* After all, what is the leviathan? I have strong doubts 
whether whale or crocodile be meant. I think even the cro- 
codile overrated by this description: he is too great, too power- 
ful, too important in this description. No beast, terrestrial or 
aquatic, deserves the high character here given; although that 
character only considers him as unconquerably strong, fero- 
ciously cruel, and wonderfully made! Perhaps the leviathan 
Was some extinct mammoth of the waters, as the behemoth 
was of the land. However, I have followed the general 
opinion by treating him as the crocodile throughout these 
notes, but could not finish without stating my doubts on this 
subject; though I have nothing better to offer in place of the 
animal in behalf of which almost all learned men and critics 
argue, and concerning which they generally agree.” 
After haying examined this subject in all its bearings, I have 
come to the conclusion that the leviathan here alluded to is 
none other than the Missourium before described, and from this 
time I shall call it the Missourr LeviaTuan, (Leviathan 
Missouri.) 
Let us now compare the leviathan with the whale. In the 
41st chapter, 2nd verse, is recorded: ‘‘ Canst thou put a hook 
into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?” Refe- 
rence is here made to the singularly hard construction of his 
nose, which" peculiarity cannot with any degree of propriety 
be applied to the whale, as his head and nose are not par- 
ticularly hard, but more of a soft and gristly substance, and 
contain great quantities of spermaceti. 
In verse 3—‘‘ Will he make many supplications unto thee? 
will he speak soft words unto thee?” Here itis expressly 
admitted that the animal was possessed of a voice or organs of 
sound, and that he was capable not only of emitting soft speech 
or sounds, buftalso of loud and hoarse sounds. Now it is well 
known that the whale is entirely destitute 6f these organs, and 
is not capable of emitting or making any sound save that 
which is caused by the ge Be of the water through the 
ejecting orifice in the head. 
The 6th verse says—‘ Shall thy companions | make a aces 
of him? shall they part him among the merehants ? ® There 
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