■)^(£ CETACEA. 



River. When it approached near the land, they perceived that it was a 

 livino- creature, by its continually spouting up water into the air, and by 

 the middle of the day it cast itself on the shore of Muskal Island. By 

 the assistance of the flood and the surf of the sea, it was brought com- 

 pletely on shore, where, as soon as it was landed, it appeared to be in 

 great distress, for it roared very loudly, like an elephant. 



GENUS BAL^^NOPTERA. 



This genus, to which Gray allows only ttvo species, comprises the 

 smallest and most gracefully built creatures of the whole family. They 

 possess moderately long pectoral fins, and a sickle-shaped dorsal fin on 

 the latter third of the body. 



THE PIKE "WHALES. 



The Pike Whale, Balanoptera rostrata, is the best known species of 

 this genus. It seldom exceeds thirty feet in length, and is more com- 

 monly about twenty-five. It is furnished with baleen, but the plates are 

 comparatively short, and of a slight pinkish hue. The mouth is devel- 

 oped into a kind of huge pouch, which is capable of containing a very 

 large volume of water and marine animals. The tongue is not tied down 

 as in the Greenland Whale, but is free toward the apex, and almost as 

 capable of movement as that of man. The Pike Whale is a native of the 

 seas that wash the coasts of Greenland, and is sometimes seen near Ice- 

 land and Norway, descending but rarely into warmer latitudes. The 

 flesh of this animal is in some repute for its delicacy, and is therefore 

 much coveted by the natives of these northern regions. They do not, 

 however, attempt to harpoon the creature, on account of its great 

 activity, but content themselves with inflicting severe wounds with their 

 darts and spears, in the hope that the wounded animal may die, and 

 may in time be stranded on their coasts. The oil which it furnishes is 

 said to be particularly delicate. 



The Pike Whale feeds not only on the little creatures that form the 

 food of the Greenland Whale, but chases and kills the active salmon and 

 other fish. In the stomach of one of these animals have been found the 

 remains of various fish, those of the dog-fish being the most prevalent. 



