BALjENOPTERA ROSTRATA. 113 



their fibrous texture, appearing more like red clay ; this was similar to 

 the spermaceti whale which I formerly dissected, and which I suspect 

 arises from the muscles being kept warm for so long a time in such 

 large animals before they can possibly cool to the centre. [In this case] 

 I apprehend that the putrefactive fermentation is carried on in a par- 

 ticular manner, viz. by a dissolution of the continuity of the parts 

 without a separation of fixed air, or a formation of volatile alkali. 



Loose Note. — The general cavity of the body of the whale is a long 

 oval, terminating in a point, divided into two by the diaphragm. From 

 the shape of the cavity, the small intestines pass more longitudinally 

 than in those [animals] whose abdomen is wider and shorter. The 

 shape of cavities in some degree gives form to their contents, as also 

 direction. The thorax of animals that are long and small is also long 

 and small : the same of the abdomen ; and in such, the contents are 

 either long and small, as the lungs of snakes ; or their direction is 

 according to the shape of the cavity, as the stomachs of snakes and of 

 many fish, the livers of sharks, &c. 



Of the Piked Whale [Balanoptera rostrata, Fabr. 1 ]. 



The oesophagus, as in other animals, passes down from the mouth to 

 the stomach : it begins at the fauces or posterior part of the mouth, 

 and, although it is of itself circular, yet it is divided into two passages 

 by the epiglottis passing through it : it is lined with a very thick soft 

 cuticle, which is very white, and which is continued into the first cavity 

 of the stomach. The oesophagus does not enter the upper or thick end, 

 but a little on the posterior part of the upper end, which makes its 

 entrance a little oblique. 



The stomach is situated, as in most animals, principally on the left 

 side, and consists of five bags. This series of bags are continued on 

 towards the right, where the last terminates in the duodenum. The 

 two first bags are by much the largest : the other three are smaller, 

 although irregularly so. The first stomach is very much of the shape 

 of a bladder, or of an egg with the small end down : it is lined every- 

 where with the same kind of cuticle continued, which lines the oeso- 

 phagus 2 . The second stomach is very large, and is rather longer than 

 the first : it is of the shape of the italic S, passes out from the upper 

 end of the first, on its right side, nearly by as large a beginning as the 

 body of the bag ; then passes down along the right side of the first ; 

 and, at the lower end, bending a little out, to terminate in the third. 



1 [The skeleton of this whale is No. 2444, Osteol. Series.] 



2 [Hunt. Preps. Nos. 570, 571.] 

 VOL. II. 



