THE RORQUAL WHALE. 



427 



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 Greenland 



PIKE WHALE.— Balanoplera rostrata. 



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 being the most 

 prevalent. The head of this species is elongated and rather flattened, and the throat and chest 

 are furnished with very deep longitudinal folds, which are capable of dilatation to a great 

 extent. 



At the extremity of the snout there are eight distinct bristles, arranged in perpendicular 

 rows on the top of each jaw. It has been called by a great number of names by different 

 writers, and is mentioned by various authors under no less than seventeen distinct titles. 

 The color of this animal is black upon the upper parts of the body, and white on the abdo- 

 men, tinged with a reddish hue. The pectoral fin is almost entirely dark, but changes into 

 white on its upper surface, near its base. 



The name Balgenoptera signifies "Finned- Whale," and is given to the animal on account 

 of the size of the pectoral fins. 



A giant among giant forms, the huge Rorqual roams the Arctic seas at will, seldom 

 molested by the hunter, and scarcely ever captured. 



