536 



THE ZIPHIUS. 



When the upper part of the head was opened, it was found to contain spermaceti, 

 which lay in a mass of two feet in thickness in the usual locality. The blow-hole is 

 graphically termed the " lum " or chimney. 



In concluding this brief history of the Whales, it must be once more remarked, that, 

 in spite of the earnest labors or many excellent observers, our knowledge of these won- 

 drous creatures is as yet exceedingly rudimentary, and even the genera are not clearly 

 ascertained. The native Greenlanders seem to possess a very large amount of informa- 

 tion on this subject, and are extremely accurate in their knowledge of the various Whales 

 and their habits. It has therefore been happily suggested, that succeeding voyagers 

 should take advantage of this circumstance, and should use their best endeavors to ex- 

 tract from those illiterate, but very practical savages, the knowledge which they really 

 possess. 



ZIPHIUS. Z/p/r/us Sowerhlensis. 



DOLPHINS. 



THE MEMBERS of this family do not possess the enormous head which characterizes 

 the true whales, and have teeth in both jaws, although they are liable to fall out at an 

 early age. The blow-holes are united together, so as to form a single lunate opening, 

 which is set transversely on the crown of the head. When first born, the young 

 Dolphins are remarkable for their very great proportional dimensions, being little less 

 than one-fourth the size of the parent, and affording a wonderful contrast to the mar- 

 supials, whose young are of such minute proportions when first born. 



From the circumstance that the lower jaws are only furnished with two teeth, the 

 rare and curious animal which is represented in the accompanying illustration is some- 

 times scientifically termed the Diodon, or two-toothed animal. But as this generic title 

 has already been appropriated to the urchin-fishes, the name has been more recently 

 changed into Ziphius. 



In the animals which belong to this genus, the spout-holes are placed upon the top of 

 the head, the throat is furnished with two diverging furrows, and the teeth are only two 

 in number, rather large in proportion to the skull, slightly curved and compressed, and 

 are^situated in the middle of the lower jaw. The pectoral fins are placed rather low, and 

 their shape is oval, tapering towards their extremities. Sowerby's Ziphius is so called, 



