220 ADAPTATION OF MAMMALS 



breathes almost every second the whale breathes at longer 

 intervals, ten minutes, more or less ; the nostrils open on 

 top of the head, so it is only necessary for the whale to 

 rise to the surface, when the hot air from the lungs, the 

 same as the breath of man, is sent out so violently that it 

 throws what water there may be standing over it flying 

 into the air. The hot breath coming in contact with the 

 cold air turns to mist and becomes visible for a long dis- 

 tance, as the "spouting" of the whale. The whales, dol- 

 phins, blackfish, orcas, white whale, narwhal, and others, 

 are all examples of mammals adapted for life entirely in 

 the water, but theoretically submersion is not absolutely 

 necessary, as is shown by the fact that white whales have 

 been brought from Newfoundland to New York in cars, 

 wrapped in wet seaweed, and kept out of water several 

 days. They were continually moistened, but with fresh 

 water. 



The seal, sea lion, and walrus are mammals adapted to 

 the water in a less degree. The sea lion is perfectly at 

 home here. Its fore arms are whalelike fins ; its hind legs 

 are finlike, especially in the seals, and it is a clumsy creature 

 on land, though it spends the greater part of the time 

 there, lying on the rocks. 



Another group of mammals, the rare manatees, appear 

 to stand between the two, so far as their love of water is 

 concerned. They prefer to lie in it, to basking on rocks, 

 as do the sea lions. Other milk givers adapted to the 

 water are the sea otters, perfectly at home in the wild seas 

 of the North Pacific, where they beat in on the kelp beds. 

 Here the otter spends part of the time with its young, 

 swimming rapidly by its birdlike webbed feet. 



