of the Skeleton of Balanoptera R6rqual. 223 



The back of our whale, when captured, was of a blackish 

 hue, and the belly white. The lower jaw is less pointed than 

 those of the other Cetacea, which is also a distinguishing mark 

 of this genus. The eye is situated near the opening of the 

 posterior part of the lips ; and as the condyles [knobs which 

 fit into sockets at joints] of the lower jaw are very high, so 

 that the top of the head is almost on a level with the neck, 

 the visual organs are therefore so contiguous to the top of the 

 head, that they frequently appear above the water, when the 

 Rorqual is swimming on the surface. The pectoral fins are 

 placed at a short distance from the opening of the mouth, and 

 nearly at right angles with the lips when extended. The dor- 

 sal fin is situated above the opening of the anus, and is very 

 small in proportion to the size of the animal. The tail is 

 divided into two lobes, with a convexity on the posterior por- 

 tion of each ; the inner margins of each lobe unite directly 

 in the middle, in a line with the termination of the spine. 



The inhabitants of Kamtschatka make use of every por- 

 tion of the Jubarte or pike-nosed whale. The oil serves 

 them partly for fuel, in the preparation of their food, and 

 affords them light. The delicate pieces of baleen, or whale* 

 bone, they make into threads for the manufactui-e of fishing- 

 nets, lines, &c. The lower jaws are used as portions of 

 sledges, handles of instruments, &c. ; sometimes the ribs form 

 the framework of their cabins ; the nerves answer the pur- 

 poses of cord ; and the various portions of the stomach and 

 intestines form vessels to contain their drink and oil. The 

 skin, which they rudely tan, they form into sandals, bags, and 

 harness. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE ANATOMY OF THE SKELETON. 



Having given a brief outline of the zoological character- 

 istics of this whale, I now proceed to make some observations 

 on the anatomy of the skeleton, which, as I have remarked 

 above, is that of a female. 



In this skeleton there are several anomalies by which it is 

 rendered peculiar, when contrasted with the other Mam- 

 malia. There are but two distinct kinds of articulation, viz. 

 first, the hinge kind, as in the articulation of the lower 

 jaw with the head; and, secondly, the ball and socket 

 kind, forming the joint of the shoulder, on the articulation 

 of the arm-bone with the scapula, or shoulder-blade. There 

 are none of the movable or the semi-movable articula- 

 tions. Those I have mentioned possess cartilaginous surfaces,^ 

 as they do in other animals ; and thus the effects of friction 

 are prevented : the other bones are only united by ligaments, 

 which, however, do not form any capsules ; they are inter- 



