upon the strand at Greenwich. It measured thirty-one feet in length, and twelve feet in circumference.

There are many people who go from London to Greenwich, indeed they go by hundreds, and, sometimes, thousands in a day, by the steam boats; now if they could train half a dozen grampus whales to tow them along, they would go at a famous rate, and have no occasion for a steam engine on board.

The sword-grampus abounds in strength and courage. One of these fishes seized upon the carcass of a whale, which several boats were towing away, and drew it, in spite of their united efforts, to the bottom. They swim in large troops, seldom fewer than five or six. They usually live upon the smaller fishes, but will attack even the largest whales, and especially pursue the younger ones; uniting in the attack, and fastening upon every part: one aiming at

Does the sword-grampus attack the Greenland whale?

the tail, to prevent its formidable blows against the rest; others crowding about the head, and, when the whale, spent with fatigue and loss of blood, lolls out its tongue, as it is then wont to do, seize upon it, and make it their first prey.

It should seem that the sword-grampus is the fish called by English whale-fishers the killer; and by the American, the killer-thresher; and that thus there ought to be no doubt that this is the sword-fish to which properly belong the stories of the battles with the whale.

I believe, in spite of what others say, that the common size of the sword-grampus exceeds twenty-five feet. One of twenty-seven feet, and one of thirty, were lately cast ashore at Waterford.

Is it called the killer, and the killer-thresher? Does Parley think that it is the grampus, and not the sword-fish which is properly said to have battles with the Greenland whale? Does Parley think that the size of the sword-grampus is usually under-stated?

CHAP. XLII.

OR

PARLEY TELLS ABOUT THE HIGH-FINNED CACHALOT, SMALL-EYED, OR BLACK-HEADED SPERMACETI WHALE; OR WHIRLPOOL, OR POT WHALE.

The

THERE is still another species of fish, which has many claims to be considered the true sword-fish, the "enemy" of the Greenland whale. high-finned cachalot, upon a still more tremendous scale, has all the attributes of the swordgrampus, and is the subject of similar stories. The sword-grampus, as we have seen, is very large when it reaches the length of thirty feet; but the length of the high-finned cachalot is from fifty to sixty! the length of its head is equal to that of the body, measuring from the back extremity of the head to the insertion of

Has the high-finned cachalot, also, been said to be the swordfish of the northern seas?

Distinguish between the grampus and the cachalot.

the tail; and the largest part of the head is thirty feet round it, or equal to half the entire length of the fish. Meanwhile, in this enormous head, are set eyes of the smallest size.

Perhaps you may remember that the elephant, the largest land animal, has a very small eye.

To its large size and ugliness, it adds a rapacity, a vigour, a swiftness of swimming, a boldness of attack, and an appetite for the flesh of the largest fishes, particularly that of the Greenland, common, or great black whale.

The cachalot attacks, we are told, not only porpoises, but even the larger species of whales, (as the piked and the pike-headed,) on which it fastens with its crooked teeth, tearing pieces from their bodies. It pursues the young Greenland whales, which it compels to fly for refuge through the boundless waters.

In the year 1728, seventeen of these fishes were seen at the mouth of the river Elbe, where they were mistaken by the fishermen of Cux

haven for so many Dutch fishing-boats; and one or two high-finned cachalots, seen off the coast of Scotland, had back-fins, it is said, which resembled the mizzenmasts of ships. I have something curious to tell you of these seventeen shall hear it shortly.

whales: you

In truth, the whole of the spermaceti whales (for there are esteemed three species) are fearful fishes, as well for their dimensions, their appearance, and their manners. The common, or great-headed, is sixty feet long, with a head thirty feet at its greatest circumference, and from one third to one half the length of the body. The blunt-headed cachalot is sixty feet long, by fifteen in circumference; swims with great velocity; is bold and daring; and, when attacked, turns upon its assailant with open mouth. The small-eyed or black-headed cachalot, sometimes also called the great-headed, I have already described.

The great bulk of the head is common to this

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