61 



On the contrary, the fish have the blood, although red, quite cold ; 

 their respiratory organs, termed gills, perform their functions through 

 the medium of water, occasioning no necessity ever to quit that 

 element to expel or inhale the breath ; the neck is totally absent, the 

 head being immediately united to the trunk ; the ears exhibit no 

 external openings, as they are inclosed on every side by the bones of 

 the head ; the nostrils are at the end of the muzzle ; the body is 

 usually covered with scales ; the eye is lidless, and devoid of any 

 lachrymal organ ; and the tail is always vertically disposed. 



Thus the Whales, in all the essential elements of organization, with the 

 exception of external form, bear no more characteristic affinities to fish 

 than the winged bats do to their co-tenants of the air, the birds. 



The "Whales have their bodies long and conical, terminating in a 

 powerful, cartilaginous tail, the enormous muscles of which constitute 

 their principle organ of locomotion ; their mamma? are two, one on each 

 side of the groin ; the skin which covers the body is smooth and 

 unprotected by hair, but it is immediately succeeded by a thick layer of 

 blubber, which serves to keep up the proper temperature of the body 

 requisite for the circulation of the blood ; the nostrils, or spiracles, are 

 enlarged into blowers, capable of throwing up jets of water, or spray, 

 accompanied by a loudish noise; the eyes are small, and situated 

 towards the back part of the head ; the external orifice of the ear ia 

 minute, and can be closed at will ; the front limbs, although displaying 

 within all the ordinary bones appertaining to the hand, arm, and 

 shoulder, are externally fin-shaped, and destitute of claws or nails, 

 being thus rendered wholly unfit for grasping ; the bones are, in 

 genera], very spongy, and strongly impregnated with fat, and in some 

 respects resemble those of birds ; and the voice in most of the species 

 is reduced to a simple lowing. The various kinds produce one young, 

 occasionally two, at a birth, and the cubs follow their dama as calves 

 do cows. 



The cetaceans are carnivorous in the general sense, devouring 

 animals from the small shrimp to a large seal. They are all, with a 

 few exceptions, essentially marine, ranging the wide expanse of the 

 ocean, and capable of remaining submerged for a considerable time. 



There exists a remarkable peculiarity in the animals of this order, 

 and which is exhibited even in the foetal condition ; namely, that the 

 two halves of the head rarely correspond with each other in symmetry ; 

 and it is likewise asserted that in some instances the bones of one side 

 weigh heavier than those of the other. The greatest symmetry exists 

 in the whalebone whales, and exactly the opposite prevails in the 

 Zyphiidae. Another remarkable departure from the mammalian type 

 is found in the increase of the joints of certain fingers of tho hand. 



With reference to the toothed whales, Mr. Owen remarks that " the 

 teeth exhibit no conformity of shape in tho whole series, nor are they 

 subject to succession or displacement by a second or permanent set," 

 presenting " in the dental system but little fixity of character, and its 



