380 



ACCOUNT OF A BELUGA 



them as blackish, mottled, dusky, or pearl-grey, be- 

 coming white as they advance to maturity. 



I have only to add, that, at the request of Pro- 

 fessor Jameson, Mr Syme, our painter, took a 

 sketch of the animal, when entire, and in a fresh 

 state, and afterwards made the beautiful finished 

 drawing now on the table. Dr Barclay examined 

 the interior of the animal, and the structure of its 

 various organs ; and Mr Lizars, took a sketch of 

 the abdominal viscera in situ. 



II. — Account of the Dissection of the Beluga.— By Dr 

 Barclay. 



I have to regret that the following account of the 

 dissection of the beluga is so very incomplete, ow- 

 ing to the putrid state of the body, and the short- 

 ness of the time which I had to examine it. 



Integuments. 



The epidermis, about the thickness of common 

 writing paper, of a whitish colour, and somewhat 

 transparent, was in many places separated by pu- 

 trefaction. When put in spirits, it became opaque, 

 and when dried, rigid like horn, transparent, brit-* 

 tie and elastic. 



Beneath it, was a soft substance of about the 

 consistency of new cheese when taken from the 

 press. It was formed of two layers of equal thick- 

 ness, not easily separable, but distinguished by their 



