"That she blows! Thar she blows!" That is what the sailors cry when
they see me spout air and water out of the holes in the top part of my
head. Sometimes I spout water 60 or 70 feet high.
I am a Right or Greenland whale. I live in the cold north seas.
Underneath my skin are layers of fat called "blubber," that keep my
body warm. From this blubber men take large quantities of oil. It is
very valuable. Some whales give as much as 300 barrels of oil. Just
think of that!
When I want my dinner I just open my mouth and collect thousands of
small fish. I have no real teeth, but in my upper jaw are fringed
plates known as "whale-bones." Maybe your mamma has sent you to the
store to buy whale-bone for her new dress.
My cousin, the sperm whale, lives in the warm part of the ocean. Your
nice white candles are made from spermaceti. It is taken from the head
of the sperm whale. He also gives you "ambergris," out of which fine
perfume is made.
The dolphin and the porpoise are smaller whale-like animals. They are
playful and affectionate.
[Illustration: (whale)]