56 



VERTKBRATES : MA.NLMALS. 



turns backward ; the Sperm Whale has only one blow- 

 hole at the end of the nose, and sends up a low bushy 

 spout, which turns forward. The spout is caused by 

 the condensation of water from the lungs and by the 

 water which lies in the blow-hole, which is violently 

 forced out and blown mto spray. No Whale takes 

 water into the mouth and blows it out at the nostrils. 

 The chase of the Whale was formerly a very impor- 

 tant industry in which many American vessels were 

 engaged. It is estimated that more than a quarter of 

 a million Whales \vere killed between 1835 and 1S78. 

 The WHiales are now far less abundant and the demand 

 for their products is far smaller. The \\halebone is 

 probably now more valuable than the oil. Nowadays, 

 the Whale is hunted with the steam \\-haler and killed 

 by harpoon guns and bomb lances. Off the coast of 

 Norway, the smaller kinds of Whale are hunted with 

 steam tugs, which tow their catch to the harbor. 



Dolphins, Porpoises, and the White Whale. 



These animals li\'e in herds, and prey upon fishes. 

 The Common Dolphin is about eight feet long, black 



F'g- 73- — Dolphin. 



above and white below. The ancients believed this 

 animal to be very docile and fond of music. The 



