^6 The Ottawa Naturalist. 



sneezing, the ejection of the breath out of the nostrils being so 

 powerful and spasmodic. It is easy to understand that in air- 

 breathing creatures, which are born and live their whole life in 

 the water, special provision was necessary to prevent the entrance 

 of water into the windpipe and air passages, more especially as 

 water must be taken in along with their food. Most of this 

 water is thrown out again from the mouth, but the solid particles 

 of food are retained and swallowed. 



If we examine the breathing apparatus say in a small por- 

 poise, we find that the trachea or windpipe is very short, and of wide 

 calibre. At the top ; the epiglottis projects like a conical funnel, 

 and can be raised until it is pushed into the opening of the nasal 

 chamber in the roof of the mouth. But a whole series of complex 

 structures intervenes between the outer valved blow-hole, on the 

 summit of the head, and the epiglottis or top of the windpipe. 

 Five of these structures may be noticed in the porpoise, viz. : 

 first ; the valve of the crescentiform spiracle ; second, the spira- 

 cular tube ; third, a double enlarged chamber, really the two 

 smelling sacs, but not used for purposes of smell ; fourth, the 

 sub-spiracular passage ; fifth, the final opening into the mouth 

 which is provided with a strong circular band of muscle. The 

 purpose of the tubes, chambers, and valves is to afford passage 

 to the air, entering, and driven out of the trachea and lungs, 

 while at the same time preventing the entrance of water. Were 

 water to gain access to the windpipe it might choke and kill the 

 whale. We adopt in our churches in Canada an analogous arrange- 

 ment in order to allow of the admission and exit of the congre- 

 gation, while, as far as possible, preventing the entrance of cold 

 air. Thus the storm-porch with its tight-fitting doors leads into 

 a vestibule, which in some churches, leads into one or two cur- 

 tained recesses, these finally opening, _by baize-covered doors, 

 into the body of the church. 



The sense of smell, like that of hearing, is in the whales 



