SOME BRITISH WHALES. 267 



great bulk, and rudimentary limbs. The huge 

 bulk of the creature is propelled by the flexible 

 caudal fin, and whilst the body is rigid in front, 

 it exhibits great mobility behind. The blow- 

 holes are placed on the top of the head, and the 

 animal can only respire when these are above 

 water. 



The larger Whales travel at the rate of about 

 four miles an hour ; but when pursuing their 

 prey, or goaded by pain, they rush through 

 the water at a much greater speed. They are 

 aided in this by the broad and powerful tail, 

 their chief organ of locomotion. Instead of 

 being vertical as in fishes, this is horizontal, 

 and the larger species can command immense 

 driving power. The tail is also used as an 

 offensive and defensive weapon. The smooth, 

 shining skin is immediately underlaid by a 

 thick coating of blubber — the great object of 

 whalers. This is at once dense and elastic, 

 and whilst it preserves the animal heat, it 

 serves to reduce the mighty bulk of the whale 

 and to bring it nearer to the specific gravity of 

 the element in which it spends its existence. 



An interesting trait in the economy of the 

 Whale is the manner in which it suckles its 



