Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships, Natural History, Zoology, Language, War

    Argues that the reconstruction of the Royal Navy with ironclads will require changes to the names of vessels. Given that ships will now resemble 'a pachydermatous or a crustaceous animal', suggests that ships of the line might be called 'Rhinoceros', 'Elephant', or 'Whale', a 'steam-ram' might be called 'Narwhal', and that smaller vessels might be christened 'Porpoise' and 'Crab'. Concludes by suggesting that ironclads might also be named after emblems of peace, such as 'Dove'.