Moby-Dick · Reading edition

Note * — I am aware that down to the
CHAPTER 32. Cetology.

Herman Melville

I am aware that down to the present time, the fish styled Lamatins and Dugongs (Pig-fish and Sow-fish of the Coffins of Nantucket) are included by many naturalists among the whales. But as these pig-fish are a noisy, contemptible set, mostly lurking in the mouths of rivers, and feeding on wet hay, and especially as they do not spout, I deny their credentials as whales; and have presented them with their passports to quit the Kingdom of Cetology.

ITS PLACE IN THE BOOK

…a creature hitherto identified with the whale by the best informed Nantucketers; nor, on the other hand, link with it any fish hitherto authoritatively regarded as alien.* Hence, all the smaller, spouting, and horizontal tailed fish must be included in this ground-plan of Cetology. Now, then, come the grand divisions of the entire whale host.

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Note * — I am aware that down to theCHAPTER 32. Cetology.

Note * — I am aware that down to the
CHAPTER 32. Cetology.