THE ORDER CETACEA. 31 



The consumption of this article was so great for some 

 time, that the Dutch merchants are said to have received 

 annually, from England alone, no less than £100,000. 

 At that period, it averaged £700 per ton, which is about 

 four times as much as it now produces, and more than 

 eight times its worth a few years ago. 



The tongue of the balcena mysticetus, or common 

 whale, is usually thick, fleshy, fat, soft, and spongy. It 

 occupies a large proportion of the whole cavity of the 

 mouth, and the area formed by the whalebone. It is 

 incapable of protrusion, being fixed from the roof to the 

 tip, to the part extending between the two lower jaw- 

 bones. There is, however, a little motion ; some of the 

 whale species can raise, swell, and extend it to the end 

 of the muzzle. The base of this organ, in large whales, is 

 covered by a flabby skin, extending towards the root, over 

 the orifice of the oesophagus or gullet, thus rendering 

 the entrance there so narrow, in this species, that fish 

 of even a moderate size cannot pass down. 



The tongue is sometimes twenty-seven feet long and 

 from nine to twelve feet wide ; but the largest I ever saw, 

 only measured nineteen feet three inches. This organ 

 will generally produce about six tons of oil. In some 

 species of the whale tribe, it is covered with a slender 

 and smooth skin, whilst in others it is altogether rough 

 and bristly. Its colour is generally white, with small 

 blackish spots upon the sides. 



The milk of the whale was tasted by the late Dr. 

 Jenner :. according to him, it resembles that of most 

 quadrupeds in its appearance ; and it is said to be ex- 

 ceedingly rich and well flavoured, but containing more 

 cream, with a greater quantity of nutritive matter. 



When a whale feeds, it swims with considerable ve- 

 locity below the surface of the sea, with its jaws very 



