THfl WHALE TRIBE. 191 



of tLeir bodies is elevated above the water, bears some resemblance 

 to that of mankind, and they have, consequently, been called sea- 

 apes. It is probable that these animals, being seen by the credu- 

 lous, the ignorant, the timid, or the superstitious, gave rise to the 

 ancient fables of the tritons and sirens, and, in modern times, to 

 the various unfounded stories of mermen and mermaids. 



As these animals breathe the air, it is obvious that they 

 cannot bear to be any long time under water. They are con- 

 strained, therefore, every two or three minutes, to come up to the 

 surface to take breath, as well as to spout out through their nostril 

 (for they have but one) that water which they sucked in while 

 gaping for their prey. This conduit, by which they bfeathe, and 

 also throw out the water, is placed in the head, a little before the 

 brain. Though externally the hole is but single, it is internally 

 divided by a bony partition, which is closed by a sphincter muscle 

 on the inside, that, like the mouth of a purse, shuts it up at the 

 pleasure of the animal. There is also another muscle or valve, 

 which prevents the water from going down the gullet. When, 

 therefore, the animal takes in a certain quantity of water, which 

 is necessary to be discharged and separated from its food, it shuts 

 the mouth, closes the valve of the stomach, opens the sphincter 

 that kept the nostril closed, and then breathing strongly from the 

 lungs, pushes the water out by the effort, as we see it rise by the 

 pressure of air in a fire-engine. 



The Great Greenland Whale is the fish, for taking 

 which such preparations are made in different parts of Europe and 

 the United States. It is a largCj heavy animal, and the head 

 alone makes a third of its bulk. It is usually found from sixty to 

 seventy feet long. The fins on each side are from .five to eight 

 feet, composed of bones and muscles, and sufficiently strong to give 

 the great mass of body which they move, speed and activity. The 

 tail, which lies flat on the water, is above twenty-four feet broad ; 

 and, when the fish lies on one side, its blow is tremendous. The 

 skin is smooth and black, and, in some places, marbled with white 

 and yellow; which, running over the surface, has a very beautiful 



