OEDEE OF CETACEA. 
41 
When a whaler is near a mother and her young one, he 
begins by attacking the young Whale, which is less strong, less 
active and less experienced than its mother. But the mother 
places herself between her nursling and its aggressor. She pushes 
the little one with her flippers and her body, so as to accelerate its 
escape. If, in spite of these encouragements, it cannot swim fast 
enough to escape from the danger, she passes one of her flippers 
under its belly, she raises it, and, holding it thus firmly fixed 
against her neck and hack, she escapes with it. Admirable and 
touching sight, which shows us, in the depths of the ocean, 
and in the hearts of the most gigantic creatures, the wondrous 
sentiment of maternity ! 
Let the tender-hearted reader rejoice ! The Whale-mother 
sometimes succeeds in carrying off its little one safe and sound. 
But her vigilance and activity are often baffled by the terrible 
arms of man. She then shows her pain by the vivacity and the 
irregularity of her movements. She does not give up the task of 
saving her dear little wounded one. Forgetful of her own safety, 
she resolutely seizes hold of it again, at the risk of perishing with 
it, and she receives a mortal wound rather than abandon her 
young, which she has uselessly defended. 
This, however, is the only phase in its life in which the Whale 
shows any courage and resists its enemies. When it is not a 
mother it is extremely timid. 
The male shows great devotion for his female. When she is 
attacked he makes repeated efforts to save her. He passes and 
repasses round her ; he tries to set her free from the weapon that 
has wounded her, and if he does not attack her aggressors, neither 
does he abandon his companion, and often ends by perishing with 
her, a victim to his devotion. 
This giant of the seas has other enemies besides Man ; the most 
dangerous, the most cruel, after him, is said to be the Narwhal 
( Monoclon monoceros). According to Lacepede, these Narwhals, 
assembling in a troop, advance in line of battle against the Whale, 
attack it on all sides, bite it, harass it, fatigue it, force it to open 
its mouth, and then they devour its tongue. 
Lacepede goes on to .say that the Narwhals, and also the Sword- 
fish, stab it with their long weapons, and that Sharks, burying 
in its belly their five rows of pointed and jagged teeth, tear from 
