ZOOLOGY. — MYSTICETIJS. 465 



is not noticed by it, though at the distance only of 

 a ship's length ; but a very slight splashing in the 

 water, in calm weather, excites its attention, and 

 alarms it. 



Its sense of seeing is acute. Whales are observ- 

 ed to discover one another, in clear water, when un- 

 der the surface, at an amazing distance. When at 

 the surface, however, they do not see far. 



They have no voice ; but, in breathing or blowing, 

 they make a very loud noise. The vapour they 

 discharge, is ejected to the height of some yards, 

 and appears at a distance, like a puff of smoke. 

 When the animals are wounded, it is often stained 

 with blood ; and, on the approach of death, jets of 

 blood are sometimes discharged alone. They blow 

 strongest, densest, and loudest, when " running," 

 when in a state of alarm, or when they first appear 

 at the surface, after being a long time down. They 

 respire or blow about four or five times a-minute. 



The whale, being somewhat lighter than the me- 

 dium in which it swims, can remain at the surface 

 of the sea, with its " crown," in which the blow- 

 holes are situated, and a considerable extent of the 

 back, above water, without any effort or motion. 

 To descend, however, requires an exertion. The 

 proportion of the whale that appears above water, 

 when alive, or when recently killed, is probably not 

 a twentieth part of the animal ; but, within a day 

 after death, when the process of putrefaction com- 

 VOL. I. G g 



