GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF CARNIVORA.

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with other ingredients and eaten as soup. Of the skin of the seal they stand in the greatest need; because they must cover with seal-skins both the large and small boats, in which they travel and seek their provisions. They must also cut out of them their thongs and straps, and cover their tents with them, without which they could not subsist in summer. No man, therefore, can pass for a right Greenlander, who cannot catch seals. This is the ultimate end they aspire at, in all their device and labour from their childhood, up."

205. There are some points of much interest, in the Geographical distribution of the Carnivora at present inhabiting the globe; as well as in the Geological distribution of the fossil remains, which indicate the races that existed in its several quarters, at former epochs. We cannot but be struck, when we consider the distribution of the typical family,-the FELIDE,with their almost entire restriction to the tropical regions, and to the countries bordering on them; and with their consequent absence from Europe, and from the northern parts of Asia and America, the comparatively small and feeble Wild Cat being the only representative of the Lions, Tigers, Panthers, Jaguars, &c., of the tropics.-The same may be said of the family. VIVERRIDE; of which the Genet is the only European representative, whilst the tropical regions contain not only the Civets and Ichneumons, with many allied species, but the savage and formidable Hyæna and Proteles. On the other hand, the CANIDE and the MUSTELIDE are more abundant in temperate climates; and the PHOCIDE in the colder regions; whilst the URSIDE seem to have been everywhere distributed, though they are now being gradually expelled from Europe and North America by the increasing human population.

206. Now there is abundant evidence,-derived from the fossil remains which occur in the newer tertiary strata (those that lie above the chalk), in gravel beds, and in caves,-that the larger Feline and Viverrine animals were formerly distributed

much more extensively;-that Lions and Tigers, of greater bulk than any at present existing, formerly roamed over the plains, and inhabited the jungles of Europe, and even of our own country; and that gigantic Hyænas and enormous Bears dwelt in the caves, which occur so frequently in our limestone rocks, dragging thither the carcasses of the animals they had slaughtered, and prowling about at night, with glaring eyes, and savage howls, in search of prey.* In many of these caves are now found vast heaps of bones of the animals thus destroyed, which must have accumulated during many years; together with the bones of the rapacious beasts which had their dwelling there; and it is a remarkable proof that these caves really were the dens of Hyænas, and that the collections of bones found in them were not merely washed into their entrances by some great convulsion which swept these races from this part of our globe,—that many of the bones of the Oxen, Antelopes, Deer, &c., which accompany them, bear the distinct marks of the Hyæna's teeth; and that the fossilised excrements of these last animals (which, like those of other Carnivora, are nearly white, consisting of little else than bone-earth,) have been clearly recognised. The existence of these gigantic Carnivora in what are now the temperate regions of the globe, seems clearly to indicate that the climate of these parts must have been formerly much warmer than at present; a conclusion which is confirmed by many other circumstances. (See Treatise on GEOLOGY). It is further interesting to remark, that as, at the present time, we only find the larger Carnivora existing in countries inhabited by large species of Herbivorous quadrupeds, on which they may prey, so, in former epochs, we never find the one set of races present without the other ;—the Herbivorous to supply the Carnivora with food,-the Carnivora to restrain the otherwise excessive multiplication of the Herbivora, and to remove their decomposing remains from the surface of the earth.

* In a fissure recently laid open on Durdham Down, near Bristol, are found, besides numerous other remains, teeth of Hyænas, as much surpassing in size those of the largest Tiger now existing, as these last exceed those of the largest Hyæna.

ORDER VI. CETACEA.

207. This order, in regard to the number of species included in it, ranks nearly the lowest among the orders of Mammalia; but in regard to the bulk of the individuals which it contains, it far surpasses every other tribe of animals at present existing, being only rivalled by some of the gigantic Lizards of former epochs. No terrestrial quadruped, not even the Elephant and Hippopotamus, can be compared to the Whale; and even the smallest species, the Dolphins and Porpoises, much surpass the average size of land animals. As already mentioned (§ 24), the form of the animals of the Whale tribe bears so strong a resemblance to that of Fishes, that most of the ancient Zoologists, and even some modern ones, placed them in the same class; and they are still spoken of as "fish" in common parlance, notwithstanding that a knowledge of their internal structure has shown that they are, in every essential respect, Mammals.

208. The modifications in the form of the body, which have been pointed out as adapting the Seals for aquatic progression, are here carried still further. The body is still more lengthened,

FIG. 120.-TAIL-FIN OF WHALE.

the tapering of its hinder portion still more gradual, and the anterior extremities still more exclusively adapted for propulsion

in water. But there is a marked difference in the arrangement of the posterior instruments of propulsion; for the pelvis and hinder extremities are here entirely wanting (or, at least, only rudiments of them can be discovered), and the tail is expanded horizontally, so as to present a large surface for striking the water. In some of the larger species, the breadth of this tail-fin is 20 feet, and its surface not less than 100 square feet. The force with which it strikes the water is enormous, the muscles by which it is moved being of prodigious size. The greatest rapidity of motion is produced, when its strokes are alternately upwards and downwards; but the more ordinary progression of the animals is accomplished by an oblique movement of the tail downwards and laterally, first to one side and then to the other; much in the same manner as a boat is propelled by sculling. The vertical motion of the tail is most employed, when the animal desires to come to the surface to breathe.-The paddles or swimming paws are comparatively short; but, as the enormous

development of the head in the true Whales causes them to be situated near the centre of gravity of the whole mass, they act with considerable power. They contain the same bones as the anterior extremities of other Mammals; but they are more consolidated together than in

any of the orders we have yet considered; and there is but little motion except at the shoulder-joint. They are completely enveloped in a thick skin; which prevents any trace of these bones from being seen externally.

209. The character of the skin in these animals is very peculiar. In other animals in which there is a tendency to the accumulation of oily matter, it is disposed as a layer of adipose

ORDER CETACEA; GENERAL CHARACTERS.

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tissue (ANIM. PHYSIOL., § 44) beneath the skin; but in the Cetacea it is deposited in the substance of the skin itself, which is of enormous thickness, consisting of elastic fibres interlacing in every direction, in the interstices of which the oil is contained. This substance is commonly known as blubber. The arrangement which has been described appears to serve two purposes; it serves to keep in the heat of the body, which would otherwise be too rapidly carried off by the conducting power of the water in which it floats; and it enables these animals to sustain the enormous pressure, to which they are subjected, when they sink deep below the surface,—a pressure sometimes amounting to a ton upon every square inch. The thickness of this layer of blubber is never less than several inches, and it is sometimes between one and two feet; its weight not unfrequently amounts to thirty tons; but being lighter than water, it buoys up the enormous body which it incloses, instead of weighing it down.The remarkable conformation of the circulating apparatus, by which the necessity for frequent respiration is dispensed with, has been elsewhere described (ANIM. PHYSIOL., § 265).-The act of respiration is facilitated by the position of the nostrils, which are situated nearly at the highest point of the head; so that the animal can breathe as soon as the head comes to the surface of the water. The Whales have the power of forcing out water through these passages, by means of a peculiar apparatus with which they are provided. This consists of two pouches or reservoirs, situated beneath the nostrils, and communicating with the back of the mouth by the usual nasal passage, which is furnished with a valve. When the animal wishes to eject water contained in its mouth, it moves its tongue and jaws as if about to swallow it; but, by closing the pharynx, it compels the water to ascend through the nasal passage, whose valve it forces open, and to distend the reservoirs. There it may be retained, until the animal desires to spout; and this is effected by a forcible compression of the pouches, which compels the water to escape by the nostrils or blow-holes, its return to the mouth being prevented by the valve just mentioned. The aperture of the nostrils is guarded by a conical valve or stopper; composed of numerous