madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第47节
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But he might run against the yacht。
He might： and so might a hundred things happen which never do。
But I never heard of one of these whales running against a vessel； so I
suppose he has sense enough to know that the yacht is no concern of his；
and to keep out of its way。
But why does he make that tremendous noise only once； and then go
under water again？
You must remember that he is not a fish。 A fish takes the water in
through his mouth continually； and it runs over his gills； and out behind
through his gill…covers。 So the gills suck…up the air out of the water； and
send it into the fish's blood； just as they do in the newt…larva。
Yes； I know。
But the whale breathes with lungs like you and me； and when he goes
under water he has to hold his breath； as you and I have。
What a long time he can hold it。
Yes。 He is a wonderful diver。 Some whales； they say； will keep
under for an hour。 But while he is under； mind； the air in his lungs is
getting foul； and full of carbonic acid； just as it would in your lungs； if you
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held your breath。 So he is forced to come up at last： and then out of his
blowers； which are on the top of his head； he blasts out all the foul breath；
and with it the water which has got into his mouth； in a cloud of spray。
Then he sucks in fresh air； as much as he wants； and dives again； as you
saw him do just now。
And what does he do under water？
Lookand you will see。 Look at those birds。 We will sail up to
them； for Mr。 Whale will probably rise among them soon。
Oh； what a screaming and what a fighting！ How many sorts there are！
What are those beautiful little ones； like great white swallows； with
crested heads and forked tails； who hover； and then dip down and pick up
something？
Ternssea…swallows。 And there are gulls in hundreds； you see； large
and small； gray…backed and black…backed； and over them all two or three
great gannets swooping round and round。
Oh！ one has fallen into the sea！
Yes； with a splash just like a cannon ball。 And here he comes up
again； with a fish in his beak。 If he had fallen on your head； with that
beak of his； he would have split it open。 I have heard of men catching
gannets by tying a fish on a board； and letting it float； and when the gannet
strikes at it he drives his bill into the board； and cannot get it out。
But is not that cruel？
I think so。 Gannets are of no use； for eating； or anything else。
What a noise！ It is quite deafening。 And what are those black birds
about； who croak like crows； or parrots？
Look at them。 Some have broad bills； with a white stripe on it； and
cry something like the moor…hens at home。 Those are razor… bills。
And what are those who say 〃marrock；〃 something like a parrot？
The ones with thin bills？ they are guillemots； 〃murres〃 as we call them
in Devon： but in some places they call them 〃marrocks；〃 from what they
say。
And each has a little baby bird swimming behind it。 Oh！ there： the
mother has cocked up her tail and dived； and the little one is swimming
about looking for her！ How it cries！ It is afraid of the yacht。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
And there she comes up again； and cries 〃marrock〃 to call it。
Look at it swimming up to her； and cuddling to her； quite happy。
Quite happy。 And do you not think that any one who took a gun and
shot either that mother or that child would be both cowardly and cruel？
But they might eat them。
These sea…birds are not good to eat。 They taste too strong of fish…oil。
They are of no use at all； except that the gulls' and terns' feathers are put
into girls' hats。
Well they might find plenty of other things to put in their hats。
So I think。 Yes： it would be very cruel； very cruel indeed； to do
what some do； shoot at these poor things； and leave them floating about
wounded till they die。 But I suppose； if one gave them one's mind about
such doings； and threatened to put the new Sea Fowl Act in force against
them； and fine them； and show them up in the newspapers； they would say
they meant no harm； and had never thought about its being cruel。
Then they ought to think。
They ought； and so ought you。 Half the cruelty in the world； like half
the misery； comes simply from people's not thinking； and boys are often
very cruel from mere thoughtlessness。 So when you are tempted to rob
birds' nests； or to set the dogs on a moorhen； or pelt wrens in the hedge；
think； and sayHow should I like that to be done to me？
I know： but what are all the birds doing？
Look at the water； how it sparkles。 It is alive with tiny fish； 〃fry；〃
〃brett〃 as we call them in the West； which the mackerel are driving up to
the top。
Poor little things！ How hard on them！ The big fish at them from
below； and the birds at them from above。 And what is that？ Thousands of
fish leaping out of the water； scrambling over each other's backs。 What a
curious soft rushing roaring noise they make！
Aha！ The eaters are going to be eaten in turn。 Those are the
mackerel themselves； and I suspect they see Mr。 Whale； and are
scrambling out of the way as fast as they can； lest he should swallow them
down； a dozen at a time。 Look out sharp for him now。
I hope he will not come very near。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
No。 The fish are going from us and past us。 If he comes up； he will
come up astern of us； so look back。 There he is！
That？ I thought it was a boat。
Yes。 He does look very like a boat upside down。 But that is only
his head and shoulders。 He will blow next。
〃Hoch！〃
Oh！ What a jet of spray； like the Geysers！ And the sun made a
rainbow on the top of it。 He is quite still now。
Yes； he is taking a long breath or two。 You need not hold my hand so
tight。 His head is from us； and when he goes down he will go right away。
Oh； he is turning head over heels！ There is his back fin again。 And
Ah！ was that not a slap！ How the water boiled and foamed； and what a
tail he had！ And how the mackerel flew out of the water！
Yes。 You are a lucky boy to have seen that。 I have not seen one of
those gentlemen show his 〃flukes；〃 as they call them； since I was a boy on
the Cornish coast。
Where is he gone？
Hunting mackerel； away out at sea。 But did you notice something
odd about his tail； as you call itthough it is really none？
It looked as if it was set on flat； and not upright； like a fish's。 But
why is it not a tail？
Just because it is set on flat； not upright： and learned men will tell
you that those two flukes are the 〃rudiments〃that is； either the beginning；
or more likely the last remainsof two hind feet。 But that belongs to the
second volume of Madam How's Book of Kind； and you have not yet
learned any of the first volume； you know； except about a few butterflies。
Look here！ Here are more whales coming。 Don't be frightened。 They
are only little ones； mackerel…hunting； like the big one。
What pretty smooth things； turning head over heels； and saying； 〃Hush；
Hush！〃
They don't really turn clean over； and that 〃Hush〃 is their way of
breathing。
Are they the young ones of that great monster？
No； they are porpoises。 That big one is； I believe； a bottle… nose。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
But if you want to know about the kinds of whales； you must ask Dr。
Flower at the Royal College of Surgeons； and not me： and he will tell
you wonderful things about them。How some of them have mouths full of
strong te
