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THE PIKE WHALE. 



It is an inhabitant of the Greenland seas, and is said to be found in greater pro- 

 fusion than any other species. It is furnished with baleen, but this substance is of 

 no very great value, being short, and not splitting " kindly," like that of the Greenland 

 Whale. When dry it takes a slight twist. When first born, the young of the Hump 

 Whales are devoid of baleen, but a considerable number of rudimentary teeth are 

 found in both jaws. The spout or blow-holes are situated on the top of the head and 

 not on the snout like those of the Sperm Whale. 



The name Megaptera signifies " great-fin ned," and is given to this genus on account 

 of the large size to which the pectoral fin extends. This member sometimes measures 

 as much as seventeen feet in length, being equal to the head, or about one-fifth the 

 entire length of the body. When the integument is removed it is seen to be provided 

 with only four fingers. The Latin specific name, longimana, signifies " long-handed." 

 In color it is white. The dorsal fins are placed rather low, and behind the middle of 

 the body. This Whale is always infested with sundry parasitic animals belonging to 

 the genera Diadema and Otion. 



HUMP-BACKED WHALE.- Megaptera longimana. 



ALL the true carnivorous Whales are remarkable for the great proportionate size oi 

 the head. The PIKE WHALE, as may be seen from the illustration, belongs to this 

 group of animals, and in some respects in not dissimilar to the Greenland Whale. 



This animal is, however, not nearly so large as the preceding, being only about 

 twenty-five feet in length when adult. It is furnished with baleen, but the plates are 

 comparatively short, and of a slight pinkish hue. The volume of the mouth is made 

 up by a development of the lower part of the mouth into a kind of huge pouch, which 

 is capable of containing a very large volume of water and marine animals. The tongue 

 is not tied down as in the Greenland Whale, but is free towards the apex, and almost 

 as capable of movement as that of man. 



It is a native of the seas that wash the coasts of Greenland, and is sometimes seen 

 near Iceland and Norway, descending but rarely into warmer latitudes. The flesh of 

 this animal is in some repute for its delicacy, and is therefore much coveted by the natives 

 of these northern regions. They do not, however, attempt to harpoon the creature, on 

 account of its great activity, but content themselves with inflicting severe wounds with 

 their darts and spears, in the hopes that the wounded animal may die, and may in time be 

 stranded on their coasts. The oil which it furnishes is said to be particularly delicate. 



The Pike Whale feeds not only on the little creatures that form the food of the Green- 

 land Whale, but chases and kills the active salmon and other fish. In the stomach of 

 one of these animals have been found the remains of various fish, those of the dog-fish 



