is naturally that of the present religion."

* * * * *



THE NATURALIST.


* * * * *


WHALE CHASE.


A Scottish journal, the _Caledonian Mercury_, describes the following
animated scene, which lately took place off the town of Stornoway, in
the island of Lewis. An immense shoal of whales was, early in the
morning, chased to the mouth of the harbour by two fishing-boats, which
had met them in the offing.

"The circumstance was immediately descried from the shore, and a host of
boats, amounting to 30 or 40, and armed with every species of weapon,
set off to join the others in pursuit. The chase soon became one of
bustle and anxiety on the part both of man and fish. The boats arranged
themselves in the form of a crescent, in the fold of which the whales
were collected, and where they had to encounter incessant showers of
stones, splashing of oars, with frequent gashes from a harpoon or spear,
while the din created by the shouts of the boats' crews and the
multitude on shore, was tremendous. On more than one occasion, however,