FISHES IN GENERAL 245 



are from five to eight feet, composed of bones and muscles, and euffi- 

 cienMy strong to give the great mass of body which they move, speed 

 and activity. The tail, which lies flat on the water, is above twenty- 

 four feet broad ; and, when the fish lies on one side, its blow is tre- 

 mendous. The skin is smooth and black, and, in some places, mar- 

 bled with white and yellow ; which, running over the surface, has a 

 very beautiful effect. This marbling is particularly observable in the 

 fins and the tail. In the figures which are thus drawn by Nature, 

 fancy often forms the pictures of trees, landscapes, and houses. In 

 the tail of one that was thus marbled, Ray tells us, that the number 

 122 was figured very evenly and exact, as if done with a pencil. 



The whale makes use only of the tail to advance itself forward in 

 the water. This serves as a great oar to push its mass along ; and it 

 is surprising to see with what force an celerity its enormous bulk 

 cuts through the ocean. The fins are only used for turning in the 

 water, and giving a direction to the velocity impressed by the tail. 

 The female also makes use of them, when pursued, to bear off her 

 young, clapping them on her back, and supporting them by the fins 

 on each side from falling. 



The outward or scarf skin of the whale is no thicker than parch- 

 ment ; but this removed, the real skin appears, of about an incn 

 thick, and covering the fat or blubber that lies beneath : this is from 

 eight to twelve inches in thickness ; and is, when the fish is in health, 

 of a beautiful yellow. The muscles lie beneath ; and these, like the 

 flesh of quadrupeds, are very red and tough. 



The cleft of the mouth is above twenty feet long, which is near one- 

 third of the animal's whole length ; and the upper jaw is furnished 

 with barbs, that lie, like the pipes of an organ, the greatest in the mid- 

 dle, and the smallest to the sides. These compose the whalebone ; 

 the longest spars of which are found to be not less than eighteen feet ; 

 the shortest, being of no value, are thrown away. The tongue is al- 

 most immoveably fixed to the lower jaw, seeming one great lump of 

 fat ; and, in fact, it fills several hogsheads with blubber. The eyes 

 are not larger than those of an ox; and when the crystaline humour 

 is dried, it does not appear larger than a pea. They are placed to- 

 wards the back of the head, being the most convenient situation for 

 enabling them to see both before and behind ; as also to see over them, 

 where their food is principally found. They are guarded by eyelids 

 and eyelashes, as in quadrupeds ; and they seem to be very sharp- 

 sighted. 



Nor is their sense of hearing in less perfection : for they are warned 

 at great distances, of any darnger preparing against them. It would 

 seem as if Nature had designedly given them these advantages, as 

 they multiply little, in order to continue their kind. It is true, indeed, 

 that the external organ of hearing is not perceptible, for this might 

 only embarrass them in their natural element : but as soon as the thin 

 scarf-skin above mentioned is removed, a black spot is discovered be- 

 hind the eye, and under that is the auditory canal, that leads to a re- 

 gular apparatus for hearing. In short, the animal hears the smallest 

 sounds at very great distances, and at all times, except when it 

 is spouting water ; which is the time that the fishers approach o 

 strike it. 



