Beyond the DUODECIMO, this system does not proceed, inasmuch as the Porpoise is the smallest of
the whales. Above, you have all the Leviathans of note. But there are a rabble of uncertain, fugitive,
half-fabulous whales, which, as an American whaleman, I know by reputation, but not personally. I shall
enumerate them by their fore-castle appellations; for possibly such a list may be valuable to future investigators,
who may complete what I have here but begun. If any of the following whales, shall hereafter be caught
and marked, then he can readily be incorporated into this System, according to his Folio, Octavo, or
Duodecimo magnitude:- The Bottle-Nose Whale; the Junk Whale; the Pudding-Headed Whale; the Cape
Whale; the Leading Whale; the Cannon Whale; the Scragg Whale; the Coppered Whale; the Elephant Whale; the
Iceberg Whale; the Quog Whale; the Blue Whale; &c. From Icelandic, Dutch, and old English authorities,
there might be quoted other lists of uncertain whales, blessed with all manner of uncouth names. But I
omit them as altogether obsolete; and can hardly help suspecting them for mere sounds, full of Leviathanism,
but signifying nothing.
Finally: It was stated at the outset, that this system would not be here, and at once,
perfected. You cannot but plainly see that I have kept my word. But I now leave my cetological System
standing thus unfinished, even as the great Cathedral of Cologne was left, with the cranes still standing
upon the top of the uncompleted tower. For small erections may be finished by their first architects; grand
ones, true ones, ever leave the copestone to posterity. God keep me from ever completing anything.
This whole book is but a draught- nay, but the draught of a draught. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and
Patience!