NATURAL HISTORY. 
7r 
cd, they endeavour to fly ; but, if they find 
themfclves incapable, their refiftance never 
ends but with their death. They live upon 
feals, carcafes of whales, and fuch human 
bodies as they can find, or make their prey. 
Companies of them are fo dariiig, as to at- 
tack crews of armed men, and will even 
board fmall veffels. From their difpofition 
to refift all invafion, they feem formed by 
nature to convince us, that this inhofpitable 
clime was meant only for their pofl'eflion, 
and that it was never defigned by Providence 
for the abode of the human fpecies. They 
fwim well, and dive with great agility. 
Battles frequently enfue between them and 
the whales ; in which the latter, from being 
attacked in their own element, are generally 
viftorious. If, however, they can capture 
a young whale, they are lufficiently repaid 
for the danger of meeting the parent. 
The afFe<aion between the female and 
their young, is fuch, that they prefer death 
to parting. The coldell part of the globe 
is allotted by nature for the abode of this 
creature, as they are not to be found further 
fouth than Newfoundland, unlefs they have 
been carried involuntarily by floating illands 
of ice, on which they had too raflily ven- 
tured in fearch of their prey. 
■ The flefli of this animal is v/hite, and has 
the tafte of mutton. The flit is melted for 
train-oil ; and that which is extj-afted from 
the feet, is ufed medicinally. The liver is 
fo 
