History of Wonderful FishesChristopher Bentham, 1820 - 181 pages |
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Page 13
... four inches in width . The eyes , which are not larger than those of an ox , are placed at a great distance from each other , on the sides of the head , in the most convenient situation pos- sible for the animal's seeing round about him ...
... four inches in width . The eyes , which are not larger than those of an ox , are placed at a great distance from each other , on the sides of the head , in the most convenient situation pos- sible for the animal's seeing round about him ...
Page 19
... four feet his fat or blubber , when boiled , produced nearly 47 hogsheads of oil . The fishermen made a considerable sum by the sale of this oil , as well as by the exhibition of the Whale as a shew to numbers of people , who flocked ...
... four feet his fat or blubber , when boiled , produced nearly 47 hogsheads of oil . The fishermen made a considerable sum by the sale of this oil , as well as by the exhibition of the Whale as a shew to numbers of people , who flocked ...
Page 22
... feet in length . They were not able to regain the sea ; but they continued alive on the sand for upwards of twenty - four hours . Few animals , it has been mentioned , are more voracious than these , nor can we be surprised at.
... feet in length . They were not able to regain the sea ; but they continued alive on the sand for upwards of twenty - four hours . Few animals , it has been mentioned , are more voracious than these , nor can we be surprised at.
Page 25
... four seamen as rowers . In each boat , there are also two or three harpoons ; several lances , and thirteen lines , each a hundred and twenty fathoms long , fastened together ; these last are so strong as to lift a weight of five tons ...
... four seamen as rowers . In each boat , there are also two or three harpoons ; several lances , and thirteen lines , each a hundred and twenty fathoms long , fastened together ; these last are so strong as to lift a weight of five tons ...
Page 28
... four days to drain . When all the blubber is cut from the belly of the fish , it is turned on one side , by means of a piece of blubber left in the middle , called the cant , or turning - piece . The men then cut out this side , in ...
... four days to drain . When all the blubber is cut from the belly of the fish , it is turned on one side , by means of a piece of blubber left in the middle , called the cant , or turning - piece . The men then cut out this side , in ...
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Common terms and phrases
animal appear bait Barnacle Goose belly blubber boat body bottom Cachalot caught claws coast colour covered crab creature danger deep devour divers diving Dolphin Eels eggs eight Electrical Eel enemies fastened feet in length fins fish fishermen fishery five flesh frequently furnished Goose Barnacle Grampus Greenland grow harpoon head holes Holibut hooks hundred inches inhabitants kind lobster Mackerel manner miles motion mouth muscles nippers ocean oysters pearls pholas pieces Pike ponds porpoise pounds pounds weight prey pursue quadruped quantity RAZOR FISH resembles rivers rocks sail sailors Salmon salt sand scarcely season seems seen seize seldom Shark shell ship shoals shock shore side skin sometimes spawn species spermaceti stomach Sturgeon substance surface swallow swim Sword-fish tail taken teeth thick three or four thrown tide tribe Turbot twenty upper usually vessel weather Whale White Shark whole young
Popular passages
Page 91 - Gannets and others, which follow to prey on them : but when the main body approaches, its breadth and depth is such as to alter the very appearance of the ocean. It is divided into distinct columns of five or six miles in length and three or four in breadth, and they drive the water before them with a kind of rippling...
Page 179 - ... when it is perfectly formed, the shell gapeth open, and the first thing that appeareth is the foresaid lace or string : next come the legs of the bird hanging out, and, as it groweth greater, it openeth the shell by degrees, till at length it is all come forth, and hangeth onely by the bill : in short space after it commeth to full maturitie, and falleth into the sea, where it gathereth feathers, and groweth to a fowle bigger than a mallard, and lesser than a goose...
Page 111 - When after a fatiguing march, and escaping a thousand dangers, (for they are sometimes three months in getting to the shore,) they have arrived at their destined port, they prepare to cast their spawn.
Page 113 - ... for being covered with a skin resembling soft parchment, almost every part except the stomach may be eaten. They are taken in the holes, by feeling for them with an instrument ; they are sought after by night, when on their journey, by flambeaux. The instant the animal perceives itself attacked, it throws itself on its back, and with its claws pinches most terribly whatever it happens to fasten on. But the dexterous crab-catcher takes them by the hinder legs, in such a manner that the nippers...
Page 54 - America, every negro, to defend himself against these animals, carries with him into the water a sharp knife, which, if the fish offers to assault him, he endeavours to strike into its belly; on which it generally swims off. The officers who are in the vessels keep a watchful eye on these voracious creatures ; and, when they observe them approach, shake the ropes fastened to the negroes, to put them on their guard. Many, when the divers have been in danger, have thrown themselves into the water with...
Page 109 - May to begin their expedition, and then sally out by thousands from the stumps of hollow trees, from the clefts of rocks, and from the holes which they dig for themselves under the surface of the earth. At that time the...
Page 39 - Porpesse was once considered a sumptuous article of food, and is said to have been occasionally introduced at the tables of the old English nobility. It was eaten with a sauce composed of sugar, vinegar, and crumbs of bread.
Page 57 - I have seen," says Captain Portlock, " five or six large sharks swimming about the ship, when there have been upwards of a hundred Indians in the water, both men and women : they seemed quite indifferent about them, and the sharks never offered to make an attack on any of them, and yet at the same time would seize our bait greedily ; whence it is manifest that they derive their confidence of safety from their experience, that they are able to repel the attacks of those devouring monsters.
Page 127 - This fish feeds principally on flies and other small winged insects that hover about the waters it inhabits ; and the mode of taking its prey is very remarkable. When it sees a fly at a distance, on any of the plants in the shallow water, it approaches very slowly, and with the utmost caution, coming as much as possible perpendicularly under the object. Then, putting, its body in an oblique direction, with the mouth and eyes near the surface, it remains for a moment immoveable.
Page 117 - Fearful they strowl, and look with panting Wish For the cast Crust of some new-cover'd Fish; Or such as empty lie, and deck the Shore, « Whose first and rightful Owners are no more, They make glad Seizure of the vacant Room And count the borrow'd Shell their native Home; Screw their soft Limbs to fit the winding Case, And boldly herd with the Crustaceous Race.