CETACEA. 9 
ms (Balena) is elongate, much longer than broad at the base, 
and gradually attenuated, and edged with a fringe of equal, 
engthened, fine, soft bristles. The baleen is mternally formed 
| of a thin layer of fibres covered on each side with a thick coat of 
*enamel’; when dry and out of the mouth, the blades are flat. 
» The whalebone of the plaited-bellied whale with a bunch 
(Megaptera) or a dorsal fin (Balenoptera) is short, broad, trian- 
gular, not much longer than broad at the base, and rapidly atte- 
-nuated, and is edged with a series (sometimes rather crowded) 
of elongate, rigid, unequal bristle-like fibres, which become much 
thicker and more rigid near and at the tip; the baleen is inter- 
“nally formed of a more or less thick layer of thick fibres, covered 
‘on each side with a thin layer of enamel, and when dry and out 
of the palate they are curled up and somewhat spirally twisted. 
_ The baleen of the Balene is alone designated W halebone (or ra- 
ther Whale-fin, as it is usually called) in commerce. The baleen of 
the other genera of this family is called Finner-fin or Humpback- 
fin. The wholesale dealers in baleen, in the ‘ London Directory,’ 
are called Whale-fin Merchants, and whalebone occurs under the 
“name of Whale-fin in the Price-current. In the ‘London New 
Price-current’ for 1843, the South Sea Whale- fin varied during 
that year from 2001. to 3051. per ton, and there is no price named 
for Greenland Whale-fin. See Maccul. Com. Dict. i. 1344. 
__ The baleen was formerly thought to be the tail of the animal. 
“See Blackstone, Commen.1. 233, quoted by Macculloch, Commer- 
cial Dict. 1344. 
SyNOPSIS OF THE GENERA. 
y a. Dorsal fin none. Belly smooth. Baleen elongate, slender. 
1. Bauzna. 
_ 6. Dorsal fin distinct. Belly plaited. Baleen broad, short. 
2. MecaprerA. Pectoral fins elongate. Dorsal fin low. 
1. ee SNOPTEEA. Pectoral fins moderate. Dorsal fin faleate, 
2 length from nose. Vertebrz 46 or 48. 
4. a Pectoral fins moderate. Dorsal fin faleate, 7 
$ length from nose. Vertebre 54 or 64. 
“a. Back not finned. Baleen elongate, slender, straight. Belly 
smooth. 
1. BALzNA. RicHuT WHALES. 
_ Head rather blunt, swollen, with a slight beard, consisting of a 
few scattered white hairs on the anterior extremity of both jaws. 
mee ooresty, Arct. Regions, i. 458. The baleen or whalebone is 
AO 
b 
PRE, 85 
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