46 



square tank as it were, in which the sperm is deposited. 

 This sperm is so liquid that whalers after cutting a hole in 

 the top of the head lower buckets and dip it out in large 

 quantities. This is the pure spermaceti of commerce, after 

 it has assumed a harder condition in the external air. 



The singular one-toothed creature called Narwhal, is 

 of this sub-order. Naturally it has two of the tusks, but 

 from some unknown cause one only, as a rule, is developed. 

 Sailors fondly designate this the SEA-UNICORN. 



The PORPOISE is a familiar form of this group; not often 

 seen, excepting- in summer, when it rolls over and over 

 seemingly in continuous progression, and in numbers sug- 

 gesting a drove of hogs: indeed the name " PUFFING PlG " 

 is given it. It is air breathing and a mammal, and comes 

 regularly to the surface to expel the old and take in new 

 air. It is the noise of expelling the air that gives rise to 

 the term puffing — and in this case as well as in that of the 

 large whales there is no water blown out, it is the vapor 

 that is seen in a column, as one may see, as it often floats 

 away like smoke. The porpoise does not roll, but simply 

 comes to the surface to present the opening to the lungs 

 for air, when it descends again, giving the aspect of rolling 

 continually. There are many interesting kinds of cetaceans, 

 or whale-like creatures, and some fine examples are here. 



The Black Dolphin (Globiccplialus mclas) is very 

 abundant off our coast in summer, and the Cape Cod men, 

 who call them black-fish, capture great numbers for their 

 Oil, It should be kept in mind that whales, porpoises, and 

 all the cetaceans are in no respect fishes; their exterior 

 only is fish-like. 



The WHITE WHALE {Beluga catadoti) is abundant in 

 the St. Lawrence River, where it is taken for its oil. This 

 is about the size of the black dolphin, about twelve feet. 

 It is notable for being the only one ever kept in confine- 

 ment. The New York Aquarium contained several, of 

 about ten feet in length. In confinement they live but 

 few months, yet are seemingly not much annoyed at being 

 transported, entirely out of water, during several days, 



