ORDER CETACEA. 475 



these animals for the oil, which is preferable for many pur- 

 poses to that of the Common Whale. Their teeth are also 

 an object of research, and are employed for the same 

 purposes as those of the Elephant. It is even asserted 

 that the ivory of many of these Cetacea, is harder, more 

 compact, and consequently susceptible of a finer polish than 

 what is obtained from that quadruped: the ambergris 

 and spermaceti we have already noticed. The people of 

 Groenland fabricate very strong cords from the tendons of 

 the Cachalots, and also obtain small bladders from the 

 gullet, which are said to be employed advantageously in 

 fishing. We shall now proceed to the consideration of the 

 Balmnm. 



As distinctive characters these animals offer to our 

 notice whalebone instead of teeth, naked skin of different 

 colours, mammae, spiracles, fins instead of arms, no pos- 

 terior extremities, red and warm blood, two ventricles, and 

 two auricles to the heart, vertebrae, and lungs. 



The natural history of these colossal animals is an object 

 worthy of the utmost attention of the philosopher. It was 

 the Whale which doubtless gave rise to the fabulous stories 

 of hyperborean monsters, such as the Kraken, extending 

 many thousand yards in length, like an immense bank of 

 sand, or a reef of rocks on the surface of the water. Such 

 exaggerations are however totally unnecessary for the pur- 

 pose of exciting our wonder, for the animals in question in 

 their own proper dimensions, are more than sufficient to 

 impress every observer with astonishment. Those dimen ■ 

 sions, when sufficient time has been allowed for the com- 

 plete developement of the animal, are terrific. There is no 

 doubt that whales have been seen at certain epochs, and in 

 certain seas appear three hundred feet in length, and 

 weighing more than three hundred thousand pounds. 

 Among the individuals of this genus met with at the pre- 

 sent day at a considerable distance from the Artie Pole 



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