WHALES. 
419 
When the Whales breathe, they are forced to rise to the surface of the sea, and there 
make a number of huge respirations, which are technically called ‘‘spoutings,” because a 
column of mixed vapor and water is ejected from the nostrils, or “blow-holes,” and spouts 
upwards to a great height, sometimes as much as twenty feet. In order to enable the animal 
to respire without exposing itself unnecessarily, the “blow-holes” are placed on the upper 
part of the head, so that when a Whale is reposing itself on the surface of the sea, there is 
very little of its huge carcase visible, except the upper portion of the head and a part of the 
back. The “ spoutings” are made with exceeding violence, and can be heard to some distance. 
The mode of respiration is, however, rather different from that of the generality of mam- 
malia, being modified in order to meet the peculiar circumstances in which the animal is placed. 
In nearly all the mammalia the movements of respiration take place in rather rapid 
succession, and are continuous in their action, and if they are checked for only a few minutes, 
the result is inevitably fatal. It is evident, however, that as the Whales are forced to seek 
their food in the depths of the ocean, and to remain for a considerable space of time below the 
surface, their respiration must be conducted on a different system. The mode which is adopted 
is truly one of the most marvellous contrivances that can be imagined, and is so beautifully 
simple, as well as profound, that it raises our highest adoration of the unspeakable wisdom 
which planned it. 
It is clear that the creature would not be able to take a supply of air into the depths of 
the ocean, and that another means must be found for oxygenizing the blood. 
As, therefore, the animal is unable to breathe below the surface of the water, the difficulty 
is surmounted by furnishing it with a large reservoir of arterial blood, which is oxygenized 
during the short time that is occupied in the “spoutings,” and which supplies the circulation 
until the Whale returns again to the upper regions for a fresh supply. The reserved blood is 
contained in a large mass of vessels which line the interior of the chest and the adjoining 
regions, and are capable of containing a sufficient amount of fresh blood to sustain life for a 
wonderfully long period. 
As the Whales are in the habit of descending to very great depths — depths so profound, 
that if a piece of dry wood be equally deeply sunk it will be saturated with water, and will not 
float — their ears and nostrils must be guarded against the dangers that would arise from the 
penetration of the water into their cavities. There is consequently a beautifully simple and 
ingenious valvular structure, which perfectly answers this purpose, and firmly closes the 
external orifices in proportion to the depth to which the animal dives. The ear is remarkably 
small, and in some specimens is almost undiscernible. Some anatomists are of opinion that 
the Whales can hear by means of the communication of the ear with the mouth. As the 
spermaceti Whale is capable of communicating with its companions at a distance of several 
miles, it is evident that the sense of hearing must be better developed than would be the case 
if the creature were totally dependent for hearing on the external orifice ; which must always be 
closed while under water, and which in many species is covered with the external integument. 
The limbs of the Whales are so modified in their form that they can hardly be recognized 
by their external appearance alone as the limbs of a veritable mammal. In shape they closely 
resemble the fins of fish, and it is not until they are stripped of the thick skin which envelops 
them that the true limb is developed. The reader may see the bony structure of the Whale’s 
fin by referring to the skeleton of the rorqual on page 391. The chief use of these organs 
seems to be that they assist the animal in preserving its position in the water, for the huge 
carcase rolls over on its back as soon as it is deprived of the balancing power of the fins. They 
are also employed for the purpose of grasping the young whenever the mother Whale is 
anxious for the safety of her offspring, but they are of little use in urging the animal through 
the water, that duty being amost entirely performed by the tail. 
This member is very curious in its structure, for, as may be seen by reference to the 
rorqual skeleton, the Whales have no hinder limbs that may be modified into fins, as is the 
case with the seals, and are forced to depend solely on the soft structures for its powers of 
locomotion. The traces of hinder limbs are to be found in some little bones that lie loosely 
in the flesh, but they are of no real use, and are only representatives of the true limbs. 
