5S0 ON THE GREEENLAND WHALE. 



size of the whale by the length of the whalebone : 

 where the whalebone is six feet long, then the 

 whale is said to be a size fish. In suckers, or 

 young whales still under the protection of the 

 mother, the whalebone is only a few inches long. 

 The whalebone is immediately covered by the 

 two under lips, the edges of which, when the 

 mouth is shut, overlap the upper part in a squa- 

 mous manner. 



On the upper part of the head there is a double 

 opening, called the spout-holes or blow-holes. 

 Their external orifices are like two slits, which 

 do not lie parallel, but form an acute angle with 

 each other. Through these openings the animal 

 breathes. 



The eyes are very small, not larger than those of 

 an ox ; yet the whale appears to be quick of sight. 

 They are situated about a foot above where the 

 upper and under lips join. 



In the whale, the sense of hearing seems to be 

 rather obtuse. 



The throat is so narrow as scarcely to admit a 

 hen's egg. • 



The fins are from 4 to 5 feet broad, and 8 or 10 

 feet long, and seem only to be used in bearing off 

 their young, in turning, and giving a direction to 

 the velocity produced by the tail. 



The tail is horizontal ; from 20 to 30 feet in 

 breadth, indented in the middle, and the two lobes 

 pointed and turned outwards. In it lies the whole 

 strength of the animal. By means of the tail, the 

 whale advances itself in the water with greater or 



