THE BELUGA, OR WHITE WHALE. 20? 



blowing canal, which was introduced in our sketch 

 of the Comparative Anatomy of the Order, and 

 which will be found on p. 62. To this we now 

 add the account given by the late Dr. Barclay of 

 the windpipe itself. " The arytenoid cartilages, as 

 in man, appeared at first view to rest on the margin 

 of the cricoid ; but on opening the larynx they were 

 observed to enter more than an inch within the 

 cricoid, and to form the fissure which corresponds 

 with our rima glottidis. From the atlantal margin 

 of the cricoid, they gradually converged till they 

 come into contact, and inclined dorsad ; their length 

 was seven inches. The epiglottis was six inches in 

 length, inclining dorsad. These meeting with a 

 membrane interposed, formed a tube, which crossed 

 the pharynx, and was directed to the low r er orifice 

 of the breathing tube." We shall subjoin one other 

 observation of this distinguished individual, as it 

 regards an extraordinary structure elsewhere alluded 

 to in these pages. (See page 50.) After observing 

 that in this animal, as in many fishes, the spinal 

 cord may be examined through certain apertures 

 without disturbing the bones, he remarks, that a 

 portion of the cord was found to be covered with a 

 semi-cylindrical mass on each side, formed of a tough 

 spongy elastic substance, with large vessels running 

 through it, and freety anastomosing. These two 

 cylinders occupied by far the greatest part of the 

 spinal canal ; the medullary cord, where examined, 

 not being larger than that of man at the middle of 

 the neck. (Loc. Cit. p. 393.) 



