THE WHALE TRIBE. 193 



is furnished with harbs, that lie, like the pipes of an organ, the 

 greatest in the middle, and the smallest to the sides. These com- 

 pose the whalebone j the longest spars of which are found to be 

 not less than eighteen feet ; the shortest, being of no value, are 

 thrown away. The tongue is almost immovably fixed to the lower 

 jaw, seeming one great lump of fatj and, in fact, it fills several 

 hogsheads with blubber. The eyes are not larger than those of 

 an ox ; and when the crystalline-humor 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 

 principally found. They are guarded by eyelids and eyelashes, 

 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. 

 It would seem as if Nature had designedly given them these ad- 

 vantages, as they multiply little, in order to continue their kind. 

 It is true, indeed, that the external organ of hearing is not per- 

 ceptible, for this might only enibarrass them in their natural 

 element : but as soon as the thin scarf-skin above mentioned is 

 removed, a black spot is discovered behind the eye, and under 

 that is the auditory canal, that leads to a regular apparatus for 

 hearing. In short, the animal hears the smallest sounds at very 

 great distances, and at all times, except when it is spouting water ; 

 which is the time that the fishers approach to strike it. 



For the capture of this animal, a number of ships leave the 

 United States, England, France, Kussia, etc., reaching the Polar 

 Seas about the end of April. When arrived at their destination, 

 a careful look-out is kept from the mast-head for " fish," which are 

 usually first observed by the column of steam and water that the 

 whale sends into the air from its nostrils. At the welcome sound 

 " There she blows," the whole crew starts into activity; the boats, 

 which are always kept hanging over the side of the ship, furnished 

 ready for action, are instantly manned and lowered into the water, 

 and the boat springs ofi^ in chase of the whale. The harpooner, 

 whose station is in the bow, examines his implements carefully, 

 17 N 



