FAMILY S PIRACULARIA. SPOUTEHS. 



57 



Cachalot (P. Tursio), the P. Microps, and the P. Ortfiodon, natives of the 

 North Seas. 



BAL.ENA Whale. The head of this genus is remarkable for its great 

 size, being a third and sometimes half of the whole body ; the upper jaw 

 is furnished with plates of a horny structure, which arranged transversely 

 in several rows, and encompassing the outer skirts of the jaw, occupy the 

 place of the teeth in other animals ; they are thin and of a triangular shape, 

 having their edges armed with long thread-like processes, which hang down 

 loose in the mouth ; this structure is well known by the name of Whale- 

 bone, and is much used in commerce. 



The spiracles, or blowholes, are curious parts in the economy of these 

 animals ; here it will be sufficient to mention, that the water having passed 

 into a bag situated at the external orifice of the nostrils, is driven by a 

 strong muscular effort through a straight passage at the top of the head, 

 which is sometimes divided by a membrane making the blow-hole double. 



Beneath the skin is found the blubber or fat enveloping the whole body 

 of the animal ; it is of a yellowish-white, yellow, or red colour ; in some 

 old animals it is of a salmon colour, whilst in the young it is always of a 

 yellowish-white ; from this substance Whale oil is procured. 



These animals are viviparous, bringing forth one at a time, which they 

 suckle and protect with great affection. 



The Common \Vhale (B. Mysticetus) : the average length is from fifty 

 to sixty feet, and its greatest circumference about thirty or thirty-five feet 



Marten says, " the whole fish is shaped like a shoemaker's last, if you 

 look upon it from beneath. The head is somewhat triangular, the under 

 part formed by the jaw-bones being flat, and measuring from sixteen to 

 twenty feet in length, and from ten to twelve feet in breadth ; the lips are 

 about the same length, and five or six feet high, having the appearance of 

 the letter U when looked at in front." " When the mouth is open it pre- 

 sents a cavity as large as a room," Mr. Scoresby says, " and capable of 

 containing a merchant ship's jolly-boat." Instead of teeth the mouth is 

 provided with numerous rows of fins, or whalebone, and each series or 

 " side of bone," as the whalers call it, is composed of more than 300 

 lamina?, which are generally ten or eleven feet long, and occasionally fifteen 

 feet ; these are broadest at the gum, and are there about ten or twelve 

 inches in breadth. The eyes are not larger than those of an ox, situated 

 behind the angles of the mouth on the sides of the head. The external 

 opening of the ear is but small, and has no auricle, so that some naturalists 

 have believed that the Whale has no external ear, but Mr. Hunter's exami- 

 nation has proved the contrary. 



When the animal breathes a moist vapour is thrown up, mixed with 

 mucus, but no water is ejected unless the respiration be made underwater; 

 they make a great noise in blowing or breathing, which may be heard at a 

 considerable distance, and they blow loudest when frightened ; they respire 

 about four or five times in a minute, and throw up the vapour many yards, 

 which at a distance looks like smoke. The tail occupies a single surface 

 of eighty or a hundred square feet ; it is only five or six feet long, but from 

 eighteen to twenty-four or twenty-six feet in breadth, and is placed hori- 

 zontally ; its motions are rapid and universal, and by it the animal is prin- 

 cipally moved along, in the same way that a boat is sculled by a single oar. 



Whales are believed to go with young about ten months, and the time 

 of delivery is presumed to be in February or March ; they very rarely have 

 more than one cub at a time. The maternal affection of the Whale, though 

 a dull animal, is very interesting ; the cub, being unaware of danger, is 

 easily harpooned; but the mother's attachment is such, that it frequently 

 brings her within reach of the fishers, and she not uncommonly falls a 

 victim to her parental fondness. A very striking instance of this is given 

 by Mr. Scoresby; he says, " In June, 1811, one of my harpooners struck 

 a sucker, with the hope that it would lead 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 velocity. Again she arose 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 of time she con- 



tinued thus to act, though closely pursued by the boats ; and inspired with 

 courage and resolution by her concern for her offspring, seemed regardless 

 of the danger which surrounded her. At length one of the boats approached 

 so near that a harpoon was hove at her. It hit, but did not attach itself. 

 A second harpoon was struck, this also failed to penetrate ; but a third was 

 more effectual, and held. Still she did not attempt to escape, but allowed 

 other boats to approach, so that in a few minutes three more harpoons 

 were fastened, and in the course of an hour afterwards she was killed." 



The Whale is remarkably timid, setting off with the greatest agitation 

 on the least alarm ; its bitterest enemies are the Shark and Sword-fish, and 

 it avoids those seas where Sharks abound. 



Other species the Fin Whale (B. Physalis), the Pike-headed Whale 

 (B. Boops), and the Sharp-nosed Whale (B. Rostrata). 



Of the Mode of Capturing Whales. When a Whale is seen by the 

 watch in the crow's-nest, he gives notice to those on deck, who imme- 

 diately lower the boats and hasten to the place. If the animal lie basking 

 upon the surface incautiously, the boat is rowed upon it, and, before it 

 touches, the harpooner strikes it ; the animal immediately dashes off and 

 runs out with the line ; directly the Whale disappears a flag is set up in 

 the first boat, and the rest of the boats put out to its assistance, shouting 

 "a fall!" It remains under water about thirty minutes, and when it rises 

 is struck again and plied with the spears ; this is continued till, by repeated 

 attacks and attempts to escape, the animal becomes exhausted, and indi- 

 cates its approaching death by throwing up bloody mucus and air from 

 its blowholes, tinging the sea to a considerable extent with its blood. 

 When dead it turns on its side or back, and this is announced by the 

 delighted boats striking their flags and giving three cheers. The Whale is 

 then secured to the boats, and by them towed toward the ship, where it 

 is made fast on the larboard side. The head of the Whale is placed to 

 the stern of the ship, and the tail forcibly drawn towards the fore-chains ; 

 the right side-fin is fastened to the gunwale, and the animal is then ready 

 for the process of flensing, which is carried on in the following manner : 

 the men, having their feet armed with spurs, descend on the Whale, and 

 cut up the fat with blubber spades and knives into pieces of half a ton, 

 which being raised on deck are divided into smaller pieces, a foot square, 

 and thrust down a hole in the main hatches, where two men, called kings, 

 pack it in proper places, called the flens-gitt, in which it remains. They 

 first commence with the under jaw and belly, and having taken off the fin, 

 turn the Whale on its side, and the fat is again removed, together with the 

 left fin. The lips are then taken away, and the whalebone removed and 

 hoisted on deck, where it is split into "junks," having ten or twelve blades 

 of whalebone in each. They continue turning the animal, which in tech- 

 nical language is called " kenting," till all the blubber has been removed, 

 the tackle is then taken away and the carcass sinks. 



When sufficient Whales have been taken to fill the flens-gut, they 

 proceed with the " making off" as it is called, or finishing ; this consists in 

 cutting up the blubber and putting it into casks ; for this purpose a long 

 trough, called the " speck trough," is placed on deck, having a hole in it, to 

 which is attached a canvas tube called a " lull" about a foot in diameter, 

 and long enough to reach to the hold, which is closed by a pair of nippers 

 (two sticks with a hinge at one end) ; along the trough blocks made of 

 Whales' tails are placed, on which the blubber is cut up into pieces about 

 four inches square, and pushed into the lull, from whence it is passed into 

 the tubs in which it is to be conveyed home. When the cask is full, the 

 lull is pressed close with the nippers, and the progress of the blubber 

 impeded till another tub is brought. And such is the conclusion of the 

 process till it arrives in England, where it is boiled and fitted for use. 



URANODON Bottlehead. Of this genus, which has also been described 

 by Lacepede under the name Hyperoodon, but one species (U. Bidens) is 

 known ; it varies from twenty to twenty-five feet hi length ; its skin smooth 

 and glossy; blackish, lead-coloured above, and whitish beneath. It is 

 occasionally found in the British Channel, and extends up into the North 

 Sea. According to Pennant they are very tame, follow ships a long way, 

 and make but little noise in blowing. 



