THE SAVAGE WORLD. 119 
Kf- : 
to be the practical belief of animals as well as of man, and one means by 
winch man takes advantage of the whale is worth mentioning — the whale is 
betrayed through its maternal instinct. The cubs are childlike in their inno¬ 
cence and fearlessness, and though valueless in themselves, are harpooned by 
whalers because they know that the mother will not desert her cub, and can 
thus be captured. Ordinarily the mother devotes herself to the care of her 
young, rising to blow whenever the less sturdy cub comes to the surface; 
encouraging it to swim off by itself instead of depending too entirely upon 
maternal care ;' gathering it under her fin, as a startled hen covers her brood 
with her wings ; assisting its flight, when flight seems necessary, by support¬ 
ing it by her own fin. All of this tender solicitude is delightful to the idle 
looker-on, and suggests many lessons which the human being would do well 
HUNTING THU GREENLAND WHAI.E WITH HAND HARPOON. 
to apply. But “in the midst of war the laws are silent,” and all considera¬ 
tions of sentiment must be sacrificed to man’s necessity for a livelihood—-he 
does well, he believes, if he indulges in no unnecessary cruelty. The whale s 
affection for her cub is, as has been said, made to betray her into the loss ot 
its life as well as of her own. Many of the most exciting adventures with 
whales have been occasioned by the infuriated creature’s attempts to secure and 
protect her young—giving up her life for her young. On one occasion, a cub 
having been harpooned, the mother seized her young and dragged line, har¬ 
poon, boat and all several hundred fathoms. Finding her violent effoits fruit¬ 
less to release her cub, she darted hither and thither after the manner of an 
agonized parent who sees no course to pursue. Harpoon after harpoon was 
