

CETACEA. 257 







oil which drains out of them. The external surface, even of the 

 most porous bones, is, however, compact and solid. The Green- 

 land Whale remains at the surface to breathe for about two min- 

 utes, " blows " eight or nine times, then descends for five or ten, 

 sometimes when feeding, for fifteen or twenty minutes. It blows 

 most strongly and densely when alarmed, or when coming to the 

 surface after having been a long time down. When harpooned, 

 it has been drawn up by the attached line, and found to have 

 broken its jaws, and sometimes the crown bone, by the blow 

 which in its descent was struck against the bottom. Having no 

 teeth, the Mysticetus cannot prey on its own kind, or on the larger 

 fishes. Its throat is exceedingly straight and narrow, not more 

 than an inch and a half in width. So very small is it that it 

 could not dispose of a morsel which might be swallowed by an 

 ox ! In this respect it differs widely from some others of the 

 Cetacea. Divine beneficence has, however, abundantly provided 

 for its sustenance. A considerable proportion of the limits 

 within which this whale is found, is occupied by what is called 

 green water. This forms about one-fourth part of the Greenland 

 Sea, between 74o and 60o N. Lat., equal to about 20,000 square 

 miles. This body of water is colored by immense numbers 

 of animalcules, for the most part invisible except with the 

 aid of the microscope. These afford sustenance to multitudes 

 of minute crabs, lobsters and sea snails by which the Mysticetus 

 is nourished. This whale seems to attain its full growth at the 

 age of twenty or twenty -five years. It is thought to attain a 

 great age. Our limits do not allow us to enter into details of the 

 perils and hardships connected with the chase and capture of the 

 whale. We may say here, however, the instinctive attachment 

 between the parent and its offspring, is a circumstance of which 

 whalemen often ayail themselves in order to secure their prize. 

 The young cub, reckless of danger and easily harpooned, is 

 often struck as a snare to the mother. Says the well known 

 Capt. Scoresby, " at such a time, she joins her young one at the 

 surface of the water whenever it has occasion to rise for respi- 

 ration ; encourages it to swim off; assists its flight by taking it 

 under her fin, and seldom deserts it while life remains. One 

 of my harpooners struck a sucker with the hope of its leading to 

 the capture of the mother. Presently she arose close by the 

 * fast boat,' and seizing the young one, dragged about a hundred 

 fathoms of line out of the boat with remarkable force and veloc- 

 ity. Again she rose to the surface^ darted furiously to and fro; 

 frequently stopped short or suddenly changed her direction, and 

 gave every possible intimation of extreme agony. For a length 



