Animal life in the sea and on the land . uch a way as to strike the water withgreat force, and thus enable the animal to come easily tothe surface, or to plunge as rapidly into the depths fore limbs are incased with a tough skin, and servemerely as swimming-paddles, while, to all outward appear-ances, they are entirely destitute of hind limbs. Underthe skin, however, and imbedded in the flesh, there is aset of bones which are the rudiments of hind limbs. 3. The Spouting of Whales. — Although whales lead anaquatic life, and are formed, as we have seen, for swim-ming, still, they are
Animal life in the sea and on the land . uch a way as to strike the water withgreat force, and thus enable the animal to come easily tothe surface, or to plunge as rapidly into the depths fore limbs are incased with a tough skin, and servemerely as swimming-paddles, while, to all outward appear-ances, they are entirely destitute of hind limbs. Underthe skin, however, and imbedded in the flesh, there is aset of bones which are the rudiments of hind limbs. 3. The Spouting of Whales. — Although whales lead anaquatic life, and are formed, as we have seen, for swim-ming, still, they are true air-breathing Mammals, and theyare obliged to come to the surface once in a while tofill their lungs with a fresh supply of air. It is at thesetimes that the curious spouting or blowing occurs;but the representations of this interesting performance havebeen greatly exaggerated, and instead of spouting largestreams of water, as we have been led to suppose, theymerely send up a delicate fountain of spray from the nos- WHALES. 3±5. Fig. 237.—Whale, with its Young Calf. trils, or blow-holes, which are situated on top of thehead, and which are provided with valves to keep out thewater. 4. Upon rising to the surface of the ocean, whales beginto drive the air from their lungs before they reach the15* 346 ANIMAL LIFE IN THE SEA AND ON THE LAND. top, and the water which is above the head is forced up-ward by the violent expiration. In addition to the dis-play which is thus produced, the watery vapor from thelungs is suddenly condensed on coming into the cold at-mosphere, and these two causes combine to form the pleas-ing and ever-welcome spectacle of a fountain at spouting is accompanied by an explosive sound,somewhat like that of a large wave breaking upon theshore, and as it is necessarily repeated at certain intervals,the whale is unable to conceal its whereabouts even whenclosely pursued. 5. Whales strongly attached to their Young.—It is be-lieved that whales l
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1887
