142 LECTURE IV. 



drupeds, and in particular, since they produce and 

 nourish their young in the same manner, it fol- 

 lows very clearly that they can with propriety be 

 ranked in no other class of animals than the Lin- 

 naean Mammalia. 



In a general view, exclusive of their Fish-like 

 form, the Whales are distinguished by a particu- 

 larity not to be found in any of the rest of the 

 aquatic Mammalia. This is a double opening or 

 spout-hole, on the top of the front of the head, 

 through which they discharge at intervals, with 

 great violence, and to a great height, the water 

 which they have taken in at the mouth. 



Though the Whales, all together, constitute a 

 pretty numerous tribe, yet the genera, or par- 

 ticular divisions into which they have been distri- 

 buted are but few. Linnaeus institutes for the 

 whole tribe only four distinct genera, viz. Bala?ia, 

 Physeter, Monodon, and Delphinus. 



The first of these genera, or that of BALDEN A, 

 is distinguished by the total want of teeth j instead 

 of which the mouth is furnished, but in the upper 

 jaw only, with a vast number of very long and 

 broad, horny, flexible plates, disposed in regular 

 rows along each side. These are popularly known 



