FAMILY BALJENIDJE; GREENLAND WHALE. 



245 



baleen, or whalebone, which are suspended from the roof of the 

 mouth ; the base of each plate is imbedded in the substance of 



FIG. 123. GREENLAND WHALE. 



the gum, or membrane that covers the palate ; whilst its edge 



forms a sort of loose 

 fringe, composed of 

 matted fibres. The fila- 

 ments of the fringe fill 

 up the cavity of the 

 mouth, sufficiently to 

 form a most complete 

 sieve. When the im- 

 mense mouth of the 

 Whale is opened, a great 

 number of the small 

 marine animals with 



which the Arctic seas are often crowded, are engulphed in its vast 

 cavity ; and the water being got rid of by the process of spouting, 

 already described, all that floated in it is retained within the 

 mouth upon the fringes of baleen. In this manner the gigantic 

 fabric of this animal derives its nutriment ; though its swallow is 

 not large enough to admit even small fish. The Whale usually 

 rises to the surface to breathe, about every seven or eight minutes; 

 but it can remain under water for half an hour, or even longer. 

 When struck with the harpoon, it descends rapidly to a great 



FIG. 124. WHALEBONE AND SKULL OF WHALE. 



