490 CLASS MAMMALIA. 



sinuses, through the orifice of the spiracle, through the 

 aperture of the mouth, or through the Eustachian tube, we 

 may presume that the seat of smell resides therein. 



We have already seen that the arm or fin of the Balaenae, 

 was an organ adapted for swimming, rather than touch, sei- 

 zure, or retention. How far it was capable of such opera- 

 tions, we have also seen. We may, however, believe that 

 notwithstanding the thickness of the skin by which it is 

 covered, it is yet capable of communicating by tact some 

 sensations of the qualities of external objects ; still all 

 considerations must lead us to pre-supposethe very moderate 

 developement of this sense in the Balaenae. 



The size, softness, and mobility of the tongue, does not 

 permit us to doubt that the Whale possesses some delicacy 

 in the sense of taste. The habitual humidity of this organ 

 must render it more percipient of savours. We may, indeed, 

 remark, that though on the score of touch and taste, the 

 Whale has been less favoured than most of the mammifera, 

 it is far beyond the fishes in this respect, which seem totally 

 deprived of these two senses. 



In considering an animal of this enormous bulk, we might 

 well be led to suppose that it would require for its support 

 a proportionate abundance of food, that it would swallow the 

 largest fishes, and in the course of its long existence, depo- 

 pulate the seas which it inhabits. 



Such, however, is not the case ; the whale-tribe are sus- 

 tained on crabs and mollusca, most of which are very small 

 animals, but their number compensates for their bulk. 

 They are so numerous in the seas frequented by the Whale, 

 that this animal has often little to do but open his mouth 

 to take in many myriads. The most certain proof that he 

 subsists on these alone is, the extreme leanness of the Ba- 

 laense which are taken in the equinoctial seas, where these 

 mollusca very rarely abound. 



All the species, however, do not content themselves with 



