18 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



are guarded by eyelids and eyelashes, as in quadrupeds ; 

 and from their actions I should conceive them to be 

 very quick-sighted. The seamen, in the whale-fishery, 

 believe them to be able to perceive objects under water 

 for a very considerable distance, the sense of vision 

 being so extremely acute ; they are also of opinion that 

 the sight of a boat and its oars frightens them. In clear 

 water, they have been observed to discover one another 

 at an amazing distance. However, in the air they 

 cannot see very far, that is to say, when they are on the 

 surface of the water, from which cause they are conse- 

 quently easily captured. Their organs are over the en- 

 trance to the ears : the functions of this latter sense are 

 nearly in the same perfection as the former, inasmuch 

 as they are warned at great distances of any danger 

 pressing against them. It would seem as if the Great 

 Author of nature had designedly given them these ad- 

 vantages, as they would multiply but little, in order that 

 they might propagate their species. Itjs true, however, 

 that they have no external organ of hearing, and the 

 opening leading to the internal is almost imperceptible : 

 were it not so, it might probably embarrass them in their 

 natural element : but when the thin scarf-skin is re- 

 moved, a black spot is discovered behind the eye, 

 beneath which is the auditory canal leading to the in- 

 ternal organ of hearing. In short, the whale hears the 

 smallest sounds under water ; but above its surface 

 Captain Scoresby considers it extremely dull of hear- 

 ing ; for a noise in the air, such as is produced by a 

 person shouting, is not noticed by it, even at the dis- 

 tance only of a ship's length ; but a very slight splash- 

 ing in calm water excites its attention, and occasions 

 great alarm.* 



* The internal conformation of this organ presents some interesting 



