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wenty…five in width； has seven feet of sea…water in it； and seems to suit the whales eminently。 Mr。 Barnum has fears that the pets will have but a brief； if brilliant； career； in their new quarters； but we prefer to predict for them a long and happy one。
〃These are white whales； and were taken near the Labrador coast by a crew of thirty…five men。 The largest has attained the extreme size reached by this species； and is about 22 feet long； the other is 18 feet long。 Their form and motion are graceful； and their silver backs and bellies show brightly through the water。 A long…continued intimacy has endeared them to each other； and they go about quite like a pair of whispering lovers； blowing off their mutual admiration in a very emphatic manner。 Just at present they are principally engaged in throwing their eyes around the premises； and pay small attention to visitors； upon whom； indeed； the narrative of Jonah has a strong hold。 And yet neither of these whales could make a single mouthful of a man of ordinary size。 Even if one of them should succeed in swallowing a man； he could just stand up with the whale； and make it； at least； as uncomfortable as himself。
〃Here is a real 'sensation。' We do not believe the enterprise of Mr。 Barnum will stop at white whales。 It will embrace sperm whales and mermaids； and all strange things that swim or fly or crawl； until the Museum will become one vast microcosm of the animal creation。 A quarter seems positively contemptible weighed against such a treat。〃
And this was the public tribute； from the same pen； to the first of the cetaceans that died through too much publicity：
〃The community was shocked to hear of the death of one of Barnum's whales yesterday morning。 Death apparently loves a shining mark。 It seems but yesterdayin fact it was the day beforewe gazed upon the youthful form； instinct with life； and looking forward to a useful and pleasant career。 The whale shared not the forebodings of its friends。 Mr。 Barnum was possessed with a strange presentiment of calamity； and summoned the public to either a house of mourning or a house of joy； he knew not which； but at all events to be quick。 At daybreak； we believe； the great natural curiosity passed away。
〃The blow is a severe one。 To Mr。 Barnum it must be a shocking reminder of the emptiness of all human plans。 Enterprise； liberal expenditure； couragewhat are they all before the fell destroyer？ Even whales have their time to sink and rise no more。 To the dear companion of all the joys and sorrows of the troubled life of the deceased the bereavement must be sore indeed。 Delicacy forbids that we should lay bare such sorrows。 No twenty…five cent ticket should admit to them； including the lecture…room。 Such as witnessed the tender endearments between these white whales； and saw how they had hearts that beat as one； and how they were not happy when they were not pretty near each other in the tank； may； perhaps； realize the anguish of their separation。 We are not surprised to learn； indeed； that the affliction has borne so heavily upon the survivor that there may be tidings at any moment of the flight of its spirit also。 May both whales meet again in the open seas of immortality！ The loss of the public is great； although not irreparable。 The world moves on； and many natural curiosities remain to fill up the gaps caused by death。 Mr。 Barnum's spirit； although saddened； is not broken。 He sees the objects of his care and best management snatched from him； and yet he announces that he will immediately send on for two more whales of the same sort。 We shall soon forget the lost whales in contemplation of the new。 Such is life； it is well known。
〃The decease may be attributed in a great measure to bear。 It is true that there might have been something injurious to the health of the fish in a long overland journey。 'A fish out of water' is a case that tries the utmost skill of the faculty。 If a man were confined in the most comfortable of water…tight boxes and carried； under the care of a special agent； hundreds of miles beneath the water； we should not be startled to hear that his constitution was much shattered at the end of the journey。 And yet we are more encouraged to think that the whale owed his death to other causes than the overland transportation； because the sea lion does so well； and the fishes in the aquaria appear to be so hearty and contented。 To bear； then； we must attribute our loss。 This animal abounded in the basement where the tank is； and whether through jealousy of the fame of the new…comers； or through some settled antipathy between flesh and fish； or simply through his natural beastliness； he communicated effluvia to the atmosphere that were perfectly unendurable by whale； which promptly expired from want of good breath。
〃This agent of destruction will be removed from the premises before the next whales arrive； and suitable measures will be taken to guard against such a mournful catastrophe。 There is a whale in Boston whose health is so good that it never requires medical attendance。
〃The deceased was about sixty years of age。 It bore an excellent character。 Its patience and sweet disposition under the most trying circumstances will long be remembered。 The remains； weighing not less than twenty…six hundred pounds； will be suitably disposed off。 While the public mourns it may also console itself with the reflection that there are plenty more where it came from； and that the energy of Barnum is not to be abated by any of the common disasters of life； and may hopefully anticipate a speedy announcement of an entirely new whale。 Vale！ Vale！〃
The tank in the basement of the Museum was now devoted to a yet more interesting exhibition。 On August 12； 1861； Barnum placed in it the first live hippopotamus that had ever been seen in America。 The brute was advertised most extensively and ingeniously as 〃the great behemoth of the Scriptures；〃 and thousands of scientific men； biblical students； clergymen and others； besides the great host of the common people； flocked to see it。 There was fully as much excitement in New York over this wonder in the animal creation as there was in London when the first hippopotamus was placed in the Regent's Park 〃Zoo。〃
Barnum began by advertising that the animal was on exhibition for a short time only。 Then he announced the 〃last week〃 of the novel show。 Then； 〃by special request；〃 another week was added。 And thus the 〃last week of the hippopotamus〃 was prolonged through many months。 The following is a fair sample of the advertisements with which the daily papers literally teemed：
BARNUM'S MUSEUM SECOND WEEK OF THAT WONDERFUL LIVING HIPPOPOTAMUS；
FROM THE RIVER NILE IN EGYPT THE GREAT BEHEMOTH OF THE SCRIPTURES AND THE MARVEL OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM。
The history of this animal is full of interest； and to every class； especially the educated and intelligent； but above all to the biblical student； who has read with interest the glowing description of
THE GREAT BEHEMOTH
in the Book of Job。 He is strictly an
AMPHIBIOUS ANIMAL；
living in the water and out of it； under the water； or on the top of it； floats on its surface with perfect ease； or beneath the surface； midway