The White Whale, 



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rose-colour, and its proportions are more agreeable than 

 those of most of the cetacea. It measures from twelve 

 to eighteen feet in length. White Whales are gregarious, 

 assembling in flocks or herds, and playing about with 

 rapid and graceful movements. The female has two 

 young ones at a time, over which she watches with the 

 greatest apparent affection. They follow all her move- 

 ments, and do not quit her till they are nearly full grown. 

 This Whale is generally confined to the northern lati- 

 tudes, though one was taken in the Firth of Forth in 

 1815. The oil is of excellent quality, and the flesh eats 

 like beef. According to some writers the flesh, when 

 pickled with vinegar and salt, is as well tasted as pork ; 

 and thus the body, which is generally thrown away when 

 the sailors have cut off the blubber, might be used by 

 them as food. The internal membranes are used by the 

 Greenlanders for windows, and the sinews for thread, and 

 the fins and tail, when properly prepared, are said by 

 some of the old writers to be good eating. 



