58 CETACEOUS FISHES. Class IV. 



DIV. I. 



CETACEOUS FISHES. 



JN ATURE on this tribe hath bestowed an in- 

 ternal structure in all respects agreeing with that 

 of quadrupeds ; and in a few the external parts 

 in both are similar. 



Cetaceous Fishes, like land animals, breathe 

 by means of lungs, being destitute of gills. This 

 obliges them to rise frequently to the surface of 

 the water to respire ; to sleep on the surface, as 

 well as to perform several other functions. 



They have the power of uttering sounds, such 

 as bellowing and making other noises, a faculty 

 denied to genuine fishes. * 



Like land animals they have warm blood, are 

 furnished with organs of generation, copulate, 

 bring forth, and suckle their young, shewing a 

 strong attachment to them. 



Their bodies beneath the skin are entirely 

 surrounded with a thick layer of fat (blubber) 

 analogous to the lard on hogs. 



The number of their fins never exceeds three, 



* Pontop. Hist. Norw. II. 123. Blasius Anat. Animal. 288. 



