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When fully grown, it measures from fifty to sixty-five feet in length; and, in circumference, from thirty to forty feet: but formerly, when they were captured less frequently, and had more time to grow, they were much larger, being sometimes found ninety feet in length. In the torrid zone, where the whale is not so often taken, it measures one hundred and sixty feet in length. Its greatest circumference is a little behind the fins; from which part it generally tapers off towards the tail, which is a very large organ, measuring in width from eighteen to twenty-six feet, and whose strength is

enormous.

Its head is of a triangular shape, and very large, in proportion to the size of its body. The upper lip comes to a point, and overhangs the under one, which is much broader. The mouth, when open, is very capacious; equal in magnitude to a good sized room, and capable of holding, very comfortably, a merchant-ship's 'jollyboat' full of men. It contains, in the place of teeth, rows of whalebone, the edges of which are covered with a fringe of hair, which intercepts the passage of shrimps, and quantities of small water-insects, upon which the whale principally feeds. The tongue is composed of a soft spongy substance, which yields a quantity of oil. The throat is remarkably strait, not exceeding four inches in width. The eyes, a little larger than those of the ox, are situated in the side of the head, and are small in proportion to the bulk of the body. They are guarded by eye-lids and eye-lashes the same as quadrupeds, and

are very quick-sighted. The organ of hearing is not very perceptible externally, but is most beautifully adapted to the medium through which it swims: it cannot hear acutely noises in the air; but the least ripple or splash in the water will often disturb it,-evidently showing the most admirable design, and the most exquisite workmanship, of an all-wise CREATOR. On the top of the head are two 'blow-holes,' through which it spouts water to a great height, making a great noise.

The colour of the whale is velvet black, grey and white, with a tinge of yellow: the older ones generally contain the most grey and white. The 'blubber,' which is just beneath the skin, encompassing the whole body,—and the whalebone-are the principal parts which are taken.

The whale can neither hear nor see so well in the open air, as when under the surface of the water. The principal means of locomotion is by the tail, which is broad and semi-lunar, and moves in the water in a similar manner to the motions of the oar in 'skulling.' Sometimes it will throw itself into a perpendicular position, with its head downwards, and beat the sea violently with its tail, until all around it is in a white foam : indeed, so powerful is the strength of the tail, that when wounded, it has been known to strike a boat to pieces, with a single blow of its tail, causing them to fly in all directions, and the boat's crew obliged to swim for their lives, until they could be picked up by their companions: the engraving at the head of this article represents such

a scene.

Its general speed is about four miles an hour; but, when frightened, or struck with a harpoon, it can swim at the rate of eight or nine miles. Being destitute of gills, and breathing by means of lungs, like land animals, it is obliged to rise to the surface to respire, which it does every five or ten minutes; but, when feeding, it will remain under the water fifteen or twenty minutes.

The whale has only one young one at a time, of which she is exceedingly fond; and will defend it from its enemies, even at the sacrifice of her own life. Indeed, so strong is her affection for her little one, that when closely pursued, she has been known to take the young whale under her fin, and dive with it far down into the depths of the sea, out of danger and reach of her pursuers. Sailors cruelly take advantage of this maternal affection, by endeavouring first to capture the young whale when this has been accomplished, the poor mother, robbed of her offspring, will swim round and round about the ship, following it for miles, and thus becoming an easy pray to her pitiless and unmerciful foes. We have heard of a whale-which had had her young one taken, and killed by the fishermen— endeavour, in the best manner she could, by swimming near to it, and then diving under it, &c. try to entice it away again; but after she had found that all her attempts to rescue it from its destroyers were in vain, she rolled over upon her back-and died.

DELTA.

ON

THE CHRISTENING OF

H. K. H. Albert Edward, Prince of Wales,

25th JAN. 1842.

I.

Many a palace of winter shall rise

Like a dream in the night beneath pale grey skies,

Graced by many a frosty day

With foliage false on every spray,

As in ivory carving and silvery chasing

Laid on the pile of the night-snow's raising;—
In many a summer's breath shall be lost
All magical spells of the fairy frost,—
And the fresh-roof'd groves, o'er-vaulted high
From the glorious glow of the azure sky,
Shall let in its light just colour'd with gloom-
Thro' the chesnut's blossom-the larch's bloom-
And the leaves of a thousand emerald shades-
On the chequer'd floors of flower-pav'd glades ;-

II.

Many a summer and winter shall flit
Dancing around us by day and by night,-
Many, it may be,—(and may it be!

Many a year both peaceful and free!)

Ere the babe be a man, and the man grow old,
And the aged seek the evening fold:-

Ere the child to his baptism borne this day
Be to burial borne the self-same way ;-
Now in the musical splendour of gladness,—
Then in the music and pomp of sadness;-
Then-by the torches' glooming glare,-
Now in the sunlight living and fair,
Mingling in colours many and warm
And parting in many a beautiful form
Through the traceries slender and tall
And blazonries rich of the window'd wall
In that Castle-Chapel far-gleaming o'er
The groves of Thames' winding shore. 1

III.

God grant it! below-a nation's Love,

And the Welcome of Ages to meet thee above!—
As the Paradise Spring without tears or blight,—
As the Paradise Summer, unburning yet bright,-
As the Paradise Autumn might differ from them
But in mellower fruits of a yellower gleam,—
As the Paradise Winter might lightly but close
The exuberant year in refreshing repose,-

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