106 , THE WHALE. 



On the most elevated part of the head, about six- 

 teen feet from the anterior extremity of the jaw, are 

 situated two blow-holes, or spiracles, consisting of 

 two longitudinal apertures, six or eight inches in 

 length. These are the proper nostrils of the whale; 

 a moist vapour, mixed with mucous, is discharged 

 from them when the animal breathes; but no water 

 accompanies it, unless an expiration of the breath 

 be made under the surface. 



The mouth, in place of teeth, contains two ex- 

 tensive rows of fins or whalebone, which are sus- 

 pended from the sides of the crown bone. These 

 series of fins are generally curved longitudinally, 

 although they are sometimes straight, and give an 

 arched form to the roof of the mouth. They are 

 covered immediately by the lips attached to the 

 lower jaw, and enclose the tongue between their 

 lower extremities, each series, or " side of bone," 

 as the whale fishers term it, consists of upward of 

 300 laniinse;* the longest are near the middle, from 

 whence they gradually diminish away to nothing, 

 at each extremity; fifteen feet is the greatest length 

 of the whalebone; but ten or eleven feet is the ave- 

 rage size, and thirteen feet is a magnitude seldom 

 met with. The greatest breadth, which is at the 

 gum, is ten or twelve inches. The laminse, com- 

 posing the two series of bone, are ranged side by 

 side two-thirds of an inch apart, (thickness of the 



* In a very small whale the number was 316 or 320. 



