36 
MAMMALIA. 
eyelashes, are so much, swollen by the oily grease which occupies 
their interior, that they are almost incapable of being moved. 
From the structure of this eye, Lacepede has concluded that 
it is perfectly adapted for aquatic media. According to this 
naturalist, Whales have an excellent eye-sight. 
We must add that this great Cetacean has the senses of smell 
and hearing acute, so that it is warned from afar of the presence of 
any odorous bodies, and that it hears at very great distances sounds 
or even slight noises. 
The Whale has two anterior limbs, or flippers, of about three 
metres in length and two metres in breadth. The body is dis- 
tinguished from the head by being slightly depressed. To the 
body, properly so called, is applied the base of the tail, which is 
conical, composed of vigorous muscles, and terminating in a large 
horizontal fin. This fin, nearly triangular in form, is not less 
than from six to seven metres in breadth. 
The tail fin of the Whale constitutes its most powerful instru- 
ment of natation ; but we must not forget its arms, or flippers, 
which, on account of their form and dimensions, can also play the 
part of oars. 
The skin of the Whale is strong, more than two decimetres in 
thickness, and is perforated with great pores ; but it is not covered 
with hair, as is the case with most of the Mammalia. The 
epidermis which covers it is smooth, glossy, oily, and so bright, 
that the animal, when exposed to the rays of the sun, shines like 
polished leather. 
The Whale is generally black in colour. It is sometimes, how- 
ever, black tinged with grey. The under part of the head and 
belly are often white. 
After this glance at the exterior conformation of this huge 
Cetacean, let us see what are its habits — its mode of existence. 
We will speak first of its movements, taking as our guide the 
interesting work published by Dr. Thiercelin, under the title, 
Journal of a Whaler * 
The Whale passes a part of its time at the surface of the water, 
and the other part in the bosom of the ocean, at a depth from two 
to three hundred fathoms. When it is preparing to leave those 
depths, a broad sort of whirlpool shows itself on the surface of the 
* Journal d’un Baleinier , tome i. pp. 227 — 231. 
