137 
with which it collects its food ; and be¬ 
hind these are four feet, that serve it 
for oars. It has six other clinchers be¬ 
hind, which rivet it so closely to the 
whale, that it cannot be disengaged but 
by cutting out the entire piece to which 
it is joined. The Oniscus is jointed in 
the back like the tail of a lobster, and 
the tail covers it like a shield when feed¬ 
ing. It fixes itself upon the tenderest 
part of the whale’s body, between the 
fins, on the sheath, or on the lips, and 
in this position tears pieces out of the 
whale like a rapacious vulture. 
24th, Latitude at midnight, by obser¬ 
vation, 81° 12' 42". Longitude, as near 
as our incorrect instruments would per¬ 
mit ascertaining, 12° 42' E. Sea pretty 
clear of ice, with a considerable swell. 
25th and 26th, Continued cruizing 
near the ice in search of whales, and 
were fortunate enough to capture three, 
two of which were size fish. 
