28 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 



from ten to twelve in those of a moderate size. The 

 greatest breadth, which is at the gum, is about ten or 

 twelve inches ; and their arrangement bears some re- 

 semblance to a frame of saws in a saw-mill. (See Fig, 2, 

 p. 30.) 



Besides the laminae I have noticed, there are other 

 laminae of a similar description, situated under the ex- 

 tremity of the palatal bones ; but these are very small 

 when compared with the preceding, they are couched 

 one upon the other, much in the same style as the 

 scales on the bodies of the majority of fishes. The use 

 of these laminae* is to prevent the extremity of the jaw, 

 which is slender and trenchant, from wounding the 

 upper lip. 



Each of these elastic laminae is accompanied in its 

 developement by others, which are denominated inter- 

 mediate, because they are, in fact, placed under the 

 larger laminae, which they separate one from the other. 

 These are formed at the same time with the others, 

 making but one and the same body with them, and must 

 necessarily strengthen and maintain them in their place. 

 In their composition, they bear a great affinity to horn. 

 The quantity of whalebone afforded by a large whale 

 will amount to about a ton and a half. If the " sample- 

 blade," that is to say, the longest lamina of the whole 

 series, weighs seven pounds, the whole produce may be 



* < ( 



The plates of baleen strain the water, which the whale takes into its 

 mouth, and retain the small animals on which it subsists. For this pur- 

 pose the baleen is in sub-triangular plates, with the free edge fringed to- 

 wards the mouth, the fixed edge attached to the palate, the broad end 

 fixed to the gum, and the apex to the inside arch. These plates are placed 

 across each other at regular distances." Rev. Dr. Fleming's " Philosophy 

 of Zoology." 



