466 ACx:ouNT of the arctic regions. 



mences, the whale swells to an enormous size, until 

 at least a third of the carcase appears above water, 

 and sometimes the body is burst by the force of the 

 air generated withiri. 



By means of the tail, principally, the whale ad- 

 vances through the water. The greatest velocity is 

 produced by powerful strokes against the water, im- 

 pressed alternately upward and downward; but a 

 slower motion, it is believed, is elegantly produced, 

 by cutting the water laterally and obliquely down- 

 w^ard, in a similar manner as a boat is forced along, 

 with a single oar, by the operation of skulUng. 

 The fins are generally stretched out in an horizon- 

 tal position : their chief application seems to be, the 

 balancing of the animal, as the moment life is ex- 

 tinct, it always falls over on its side, or turns upon 

 its back. They appear also to be used, in bearing 

 off their young, in turning, and giving a direction 

 to the velocity produced by the tail. 



Bulky as the whale is, and inactive, or indeed 

 clumsy as it appears to be, one might imagine that 

 all its motions would be sluggish, and its greatest 

 exertions productive of no great celerity. The 

 fact, however, is the reverse. A whale extended 

 motionless at the surface of the sea, can sink in the 

 space of five or six seconds, or less, beyond the reach 

 of its human enemies. Its velocity along the sur- 

 face, or perpendicularly or obliquely downward, is 

 the same. I have observed a whale descending. 



