244 CETACEA. 



tured? What is its range? To what division do the two preceding Ante- 

 lopes belong ? Which is the only Antelope of Europe ? What characteris- 

 tics are mentioned ? Further describe it. What is said of the hunt of this 

 animal? How is its flesh esteemed? To what genus is the Prong-Horned 

 Antelope referred ? Name its characteristics and habits. To what division 

 do the two last named species belong? What are Antelopes of the 

 second group called? Which of these is first mentioned? Name its dis- 

 tinctive traits and habits. Give some account of the Lecama. What other 

 small group of Antelopes is mentioned ? Why are they so named ? What 

 distinguishes them ? What has Agassiz remarked? What is said of the 

 Kudoo? For what is it most remarkable? What animal does it most re- 

 semble ? Which is the largest of the Antelopes ? What gave it the name 

 Eyland? What is said of it? Where is the Nyl-Gkau found? Give a 

 description of it. 



Name the species on the Chart. Trace them. Give the most prominent 

 characteristics of each as a general review. 



SECTION XXXI, 



NINTH ORDER. CETACEA. (Gr. x^ro?, a whale.) WHALES, 

 DOLPHINS, ETC. 



MARINE-MAMMALS. 



This is an order of mammiferous animals inhabiting the sea ; 

 surpassing all others in size, though lower in organization than 

 those living upon the land. Moving in the water by means of 

 fin-flippers, or paddles, "the earlier naturalists placed them 

 among the fishes; but all now unite in placing them among the 

 mammals." Like them, they are viviparous, (born alive,) suckle 

 their young, have warm blood, and breathe by means of lungs. 

 The contour of the body, is fish-like, no neck being distinguisha- 

 ble, and the whole tapering down gradually from the head to the 

 tail. The tail, however, terminates, not vertically as in fishes, 

 but horizontally, in a cartilaginous fin, and is moved upwards and 

 downwards by muscles of enormous force and volume. In 

 length, it is only five or six feet ; but in width, from eighteen to 

 twenty-six. So powerful is it in the largest varieties, that they 

 frequently force themselves out of water. The greatest velocity 

 is given by the upward and downward strokes ; a slower motion 

 is obtained by cutting the water sidewise, and obliquely down- 

 wards, as a boat is forced along by a single oar in the operation 

 of skulling. So rapid are the movements of the Cetacea, they 

 have been called the "birds of the sea." The flippers, or pad- 

 dles, the anterior limbs, are generally stretched out in a horizon- 

 tal position. When dissected, the bones of the paddles are found 



