CHAPTER VI. 

 THE RIGHT WHALES 



THE whalebone whales (Mystacoceti) are separ- 

 ated by all naturalists from the toothed whales 

 as a distinct division, which is characterised by the 

 possession of whalebone. This is not, however, the 

 only feature which distinguishes the whalebone whales 

 from the Odontoceti or toothed whales. 



The skull is nearly symmetrical ; in fact, it is 

 not perceptibly asymmetrical. The nasal bones are 

 equal or sub-equal in size, and in their characters 

 more like those of ordinary mammals. They are 

 placed side by side, have truncated ends, and roof 

 over the nasal passage to the extent of their length. 

 The frontal bones are not overlapped by the maxillae 

 as they are in toothed whales. There is a distinct 

 lacrymal bone. The two rami of the mandible meet 

 only at the very end and for a very short space ; they 

 are, moreover, as a rule connected at their junction 

 by ligament only. They are much bowed outwards, 

 and enclose a spoon-shaped area. The skull as a 

 whole is more or less arched, most so in the Rio-ht 



o 



whales. This structural peculiarity is obviously 

 connected with the presence of whalebone and is less 



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