THE WHALE. 109 



a portion in the axilla of the fins, &c. are gray. J 

 have seen whales, that were all over piebald. The 

 older animals contain the most gray and white; 

 under size whales, are altogether of a bluish black, 

 and suckers of pale bluish or bluish gray colour. 



The skin of the body is slightly furrowed, like 

 the water-lines on coarse laid paper. On the tail- 

 fins, &e. it is smooth. The cuticle, or that part of 

 the skin which can be pulled off in sheets, after it 

 has been a little dried in the air, or particularly in 

 frost, is not thicker than parchment. The rete mu- 

 cosum in adults, is about three fourths of an inch 

 in thickness over most parts of the body; in suckers 

 nearly two inches; but on the under side of the fins, 

 on the inside of the lips, and on the surface of the 

 tongue, it is much thinner. This part of the integu- 

 ments is generally of the same colour throughout its 

 thickness. The fibres, of which it is composed, are 

 perpendicular to the surface of the hody: under this 

 lies the true skin, which is white and tough. As 

 it imperceptibly becomes impregnated with oil, and 

 passes gradually into the form of blubber, its real 

 thickness can not easily be stated. The most com- 

 pact part, perhaps, may be a quarter of an inch 

 thick. 



Immediately beneath the skin, lies the blubber 

 or fat, encompassing the whole body of the animal, 

 together with the fins and tail. Its colour is yellow- 

 ish white, yellow or red. In the very young ani- 

 mals, it is always yellowish white. In some old 



