OF CETACEOUS FISHES, 
5 * 
the furface of the water. Wc are certain, that there is no 
luch receptacle for air among the vifcera of terreftrial 
animals : The analogy however, is not Jhere fo ltrong as 
to juftify us in denying the whale a particular provision 
of this nature, which the failors affert that they have 
difcovered, and which the neceffities of the animal feem 
to require. 
. As the cetaceous fifties refemble terreftrial animals in 
their conformation, fo they are alfo diftinguilhed by funi- 
lar appetites and manners : Among them the aft of co- 
pulation is faid to be performed more hitmano, and the fe- 
fnale once in two years feels the acccfs of deftre. In the 
inferior tribes of fifli we can difcern hardly any thing 
like pairing between the males and females, and have 
no veftiges of conjugal fidelity. The mutual attachment 
of the whales, however, exceeds whatever we are told 
of the eonftancy of birds. 
Whenever a pair of whales are attacked by the filters, 
they mutually affift, it is afl'erted, in the defence of each 
other ; and when one is wounded the other ftill attends 
lending every aid in its power ; and no motives of fear 
or felf prefervation can urge it to defert its affociate. An 
inftance is recorded * of one, which, after maintaining an 
obftinate conflict in defence of its companion, that had 
been ftruck with a harpoon, and on feeing it expire under 
the wounds it had received, ftretched itfelf upon the dy- 
ing filh and yielded up its breath at the fame inftant. 
The period of geftation among the cetaceous fifties is 
faid to be nine or ten months ; the female commonly 
produces one, and never above two young. During the 
time of her pregnancy, and particularly at the birth c,f 
hp? 
Anderfon’s Dift. Conn 
