The hundreds of gallons that do find their way into his ample 

 mouth, where the jaws are sixteen feet long, seven wide, and ten 

 high, are readily disposed of by the great whalebone sieve. Most 

 interesting is the half ton or more of this huge drain, composed of 

 perhaps three hundred black blades, hanging down from the roof of 

 his mouth on each side, with the lower edges frayed into silky, but 

 tough, brushes, all so flexible that it folds back when the mighty 

 jaws are shut. But, gliding along with them wide open, does this 

 monster scoop in the smallest sea food, which is the only size his 

 gullet of two inches in diameter can swallow, and not until he has 

 his cavernous mouth full, does he force out the water through his 

 effective sieve and retain the prey to be consumed at his leisure. 



