OF CETACEOUS FISHES. 4* 



CHAPTER IL 



Section L 



Generic CharaSlers of the Cetaceous Fi/Ijes. 



X HE cetaceous fiihes conftltute the flrft order, according 

 to the Ariftotelian divilion ; and have obtained from hirri 

 that name, on account of their enormous fize, and their 

 producing a perfect animal fromytOT^/^, and not from ova *o 

 Thefe animals, from the more perfect conformalion of 

 their organs, as well as their fuperior bulk, are fully en- 

 titled to the firft rank among the inhabitants of the oce- 

 an. Among the terreftrial animals, we have feen fome 

 endowed with higher powers, and more various inftindls, 

 and there ly challenging a fuperior rank among the kin- 

 dred tribes. The fame diRinftion obtains among the 

 aquatic orders, where the whale, pofleffing the organiz?i- 

 tion and many of the habits of quadrupeds, claims the 

 firft ftation among his companions of the deep f . 



This order contains the whales of all the various kinds, 

 who want teeth ; the cachalot, with teeth in the lower 



Vol. III. F jaw ; 



* Willoughly, lib. ii. p. 26. t Goldfmlth'sNat.Hift.vol. VI. 



