3<2 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Description. 



merly they were taken of a much greater size, 

 when the captures were less frequent, and the 

 fish had time to grow. Such is their bulk within 

 the arctic circle ; but in those of the torrid zone, 

 according to Adamson, where they are unmo- 

 lested, whales are still seen one hundred and 

 sixty feet long. There are many turnings and 

 windings in this fish's nostrils, and it has no fin 

 on the back. The head is very much dispropor- 

 tioned to the size of the body, being one third the 

 size of the fish ; and the under lip is much broader 

 than the upper. The tongue is composed of a 

 soft spungy fat, capable of yielding five or six 

 barrels of oil. The gullet is very small for so 

 vast a fish, not exceeding four inches in width. 



There are two orifices through which it spouts 

 water to a vast height, and with a great noise, 

 especially when disturbed or wounded in the 

 middle of the head. The eyes are not larger 

 than those of an ox, .and when the chrystalline 

 humour is dried, it does not appear larger than 

 a pea. They are placed towards the back of the 

 head, being the most convenient situation for 

 enabling them to see both before and behind ; as 

 also to see over them, where their food is princi- 

 pally found. They are guarded by eye- lids and 

 eye-lashes, as in quadrupeds, and they seem to 

 be very sharp-sighted. Nor is their sense of 

 hearing in less perfection ; for they are warned 

 at great distances of any danger preparing 

 against them. The external organ of hearing is 



