318 MAMMALS 



skill and skull, on (lie li^lit side of the massive head is a 

 laif^c (•a\'ilv containing the substanee known as speniiaceli, 

 torineily used to a great extent in the manufacture of 

 eaiulles. The nostrils open by a single a|)ei1ure tlirough 

 the top of the head. This opening is the " blow hole " and 

 fr(jni it issue the columns (if x'ajjor sent forth by the animal 

 when respiring. These huge animals come to the surface, 

 " s])out " — send forth moisture-laden columns of vapor 

 fi'om the lungs — sixty to seventy tinies, then plunge below 

 to remain from foi'ty minutes to an hour and a quarter. 



There are se\eral species of whalebone whales, but the 

 bowhead, or (Ireenland whale is Ix'st known for its oil and 

 whalebone. It has no teeth, but tlie lower sides of the 

 upper jaw are furnislied with hundreds of parallel plates of 

 baleen, or whalebone. Tliese plates are fringed at the end 

 and act vei-)- effectually as a strainer, to separate the small 

 animals, upon which the whale feeds, from the water taken 

 in with them. The right whales of the Arctic .Seas, the 

 razor-back whales, and the sulphur-bottom whales are 

 the largest living mammals. The latter are often ninety 

 to ninety-five feet in length. The wliales ].)ossess mamnue 

 and suckle their young; but, superlicially, the>' resemble 

 fish more than mammals. The fore limbs ai'e luodifietl into 

 paddles, while tlie hind limbs are wanting, and the body is 

 incased in a thick layci' <if I'at, the " blubber," which yields 

 the oil so much sought after. 



MANA'i'KK .\ND Dt'dONc (Sircnia) 



Th.e.'-te are (ihr> (iqiialic iikuiihhiIs irilh <i fishlikr hodtj and 

 (Hill) llic jiinranl, jiiKliUclih'c limits prcsvtiL There is no 

 virlical iliirsfil Jill, and /lie snniil ix mil ijrealli/ elaiiijaled. The 



