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118 times they dart along the surface, and then dive and reascend with such energy as to leap entirely out of the water; sometimes they raise themselves perpendicularly; sometimes, head downwards, they flourish their tails aloft, and lash the water with tremendous violence, throwing the sea around them into foam, and producing a roaring noise resounding to a considerable distance." The affection of the mother for her sucking offspring, is very remarkable; and is taken advantage of by the whalers; who often strike the young one to obtain the mother, knowing that she will not forsake it. Mr. Scoresby has recorded several most affecting instances of this maternal love, stronger than the fear of death. On one occasion, a suckling Whale having been struck, the mother arose to the surface, and seizing her infant beneath her fin, dived instantly, dragging about a hundred fathoms of line with considerable velocity. Again she rose to the surface; furiously darted to and fro; frequently stopping short, or suddenly changing her direction, and exhibiting every symptom of extreme agony. She acted in this manner for a considerable time, though closely pursued by the boats, her maternal concern over- coming all sense of her own imminent danger. ‘The harpoon at length was infixed in her, after two failures; yet, indifferent to pain, she still refused to seek her own escape, but clung to her young one, thus permitting the harpoons of other boats to be thrown, until at length she expired with her offspring, an unresisting prey.

The incessant pursuit of this huge animal, has driven it from regions in which it was formerly abundant, and is perceptibly thinning its numbers