even Scoresby, a long experienced man as touching that species, declares not to have its counterpart in nature. 甚至象斯哥斯比这个对这方面富有经验的人物，也都认为它连一半都不象。

　　But the placing of the cap-sheaf to all this blundering business was reserved for the scientific Frederick Cuvier, brother to the famous Baron. 但是，集所有这种错误百出之大成的，还得算那个科学家弗里德里克·居维埃，也就是那位著名的男爵的弟弟。

　　In 1836, he published a Natural History of Whales, in which he gives what he calls a picture of the Sperm Whale. 一八三六年，他出版了一本《鲸博物史》，在那里边，他画出一幅他所谓抹香鲸的图。

　　Before showing that picture to any Nantucketer, you had best provide for your summary retreat from Nantucket. 你在把这幅图拿给随便哪个南塔开特人看之前，你最好得有立刻离开南塔开特的准备。

　　In a word, Frederick Cuvier's Sperm Whale is not a Sperm Whale, but a squash.  总之，弗里德里克。居维埃的抹香鲸并不是一条抹香鲸，而是一只大南瓜。

　　Of course, he never had the benefit of a whaling voyage (such men seldom have), but whence he derived that picture, who can tell?  自然啦，他从来没有去捕过鲸（这种人也不大会有这种机会），不过，究竟他是从哪里弄到那幅图，谁知道他？

　　Perhaps he got it as his scientific predecessor in the same field, Desmarest, got one of his authentic abortions; that is, from a Chinese drawing. 也许他跟他的前辈的科学家德马雷斯一样，是从他那原始的流产品，也就是说，是从中国画得来的。

　　And what sort of lively lads with the pencil those Chinese are, many queer cups and saucers inform us. 而那些拿着画笔，蘸着许多希奇古怪的色杯和笔洗儿的中国小伙子，能给我们一些什么呢？

　　As for the sign-painters' whales seen in the streets hanging over the shops of oil-dealers, what shall be said of them? 至于街上所看到的，那些挂在鲸油商铺门前，由漆招牌匠画出来的鲸，又该怎么说呢？

　　They are generally Richard III. whales, with dromedary humps, and very savage;  它们一般都是理查三世（理查三世（1452—1485）——英国皇帝，以强悍凶残见称。）的鲸，有着单峰骆驼似的背峰，十分野蛮；