ORDER CETACEA. 459 



tions ; the skin, especially when the animal is young, is of 

 a whitish colour, with a multitude of brown spots. 



The Beluga subsists on pleuronectes, cod, and a variety 

 of other fish, which it swallows with such avidity as often 

 to run the risk of being suffocated, the orifice of its throat 

 is so narrow : the flesh they say has a reddish tint. 



The attachment of the female for the single young one to 

 which she gives birth is very great. She retains it continu- 

 ally by her side, and is never separated from it without 

 displaying the most lively uneasiness. She frequently pre- 

 sents it one of the mammae which are situated near the tail, 

 and the little one sucks the milk with avidity, which is of 

 a dazzling whiteness. 



The other species, which Rondelet has given under the 

 name of Mular or Senedetta, the Baron conceives to be far 

 from authenticated, and to be probably nothing but a young 

 Beluga. We shall therefore refrain from citing any de- 

 scription of it. 



Of the Hyperoodontes there is but one species, to 

 which the name of Butskopf has been given. The distri- 

 bution and situation of the teeth of this animal have ap- 

 peared to all the naturalists who have spoken of it, so decided 

 a character, that they have agreed to express it by a single 

 word which should be the type of an entire family. The 

 word is composed of two Greek terms, hyperoon signify- 

 ing palate, and odos tooth. 



The animal in question whose jaws are equally advanced, 

 has only two conical teeth in the lower one situated at its 

 extremity. But the entire circumference of the upper one, 

 and also the surface of the palate, are furnished with small, 

 sharp, unequal teeth, of very considerable hardness. The 

 tongue, which has much analogy with that of a young ox, 

 is rough to the touch, indented in its entire circumference, 

 and adherent to the lower jaw. 



The common orifice of the spiracles, is a crescent whose 



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