ing dreaded by seamen, it ought to be looked upon as their friend, for
it seems to know long before they do when a storm is approaching, and by
its piercing cry and mode of flight warns them of the coming danger.
Seamen, however, instead of being grateful, like the world of old, the
world at present, and the world as it ever will be, look upon these
little prophets with dread and hatred, and in their ignorance and
stupidity consider them the cause of the evil portended.

Penguins are found only in the Antarctic Ocean. They derive their name
from _pinguis_, "fat," they being noted for that quality. Their legs
are placed so far back that, when on shore, they stand almost upright.
Though on land their movements are very awkward, yet when in the water--
which, more than the air, must be considered their natural element, as
their wings are too small to allow them to fly--they are bold birds, and
will bravely defend themselves or their young when attacked, and will
advance on a retreating enemy.

We had not been long in these icy regions before we reaped an ample
reward for all the dangers we had encountered. As we looked over the
side, we observed the water full of animalcules, while vast quantities
of shrimps of various sorts were seen in the neighbourhood of the
icebergs; but what still more raised our hopes of finding whales, were
the numbers of large squid, or cuttle-fish, on which, as I have said,
they chiefly feed. We were watching a huge fellow floating near the
ship, with outstretched tentaculae, of arms, extending an immense
distance from his head, and with which he was dragging up into his
voracious mouth thousands of animalculae every moment--and from his size
he seemed capable of encircling the body of any unfortunate person he
might find swimming--when the cry was heard from aloft of "There she,
spouts--there she spouts!"

In an instant Newman's lecture of natural history, which he was giving
us, was brought to a conclusion. All hands were on deck, and four boats
were manned and lowered, and pulled away after no less than three fine
bull whales, which appeared at the same instant round the ship. There
is a danger in attacking a whale near an iceberg which is avoided in the
open sea. When he is fast, he may sound under it, and come up on the
other side; but instinct warns him not to come up so as to strike his
head against it.

Newman and I had already gone in the boats, and had proved ourselves no
bad