PIKE-HEADED MYSTICETE. 493 



i^hove a foot in length ; and in the lower jaw is a 

 cavity to receive them : the tongue is large, fat, 

 wrinkled, and liver-coloured, and from this to^ 

 wards the throat hangs a loose skin like an oper- 

 jculiim. The pectoral fins are large, obovate- 

 pblong, entire on the posterior edge, but round- 

 crenated on the anterior. The dorsal lin is of a 

 fatty-cartilaginous substance, and is situated on 

 the hind part of the back, above the vent, and is 

 ijearly perpendicular. Behind the dorsal fin runs 

 a carina, or sharp edge, as far as the tail, which 

 is slightly divided into two somewhat pointed 

 lobes. This species lives principally on a small 

 species of Sahnon, called the Salmo arcticusj as 

 well as on the yh^gomuta arctica and the Ammo- 

 dytes Tobianus or Launce. When in the act of 

 opening its mouth, it dilates the abdominal plaits 

 or furrows, which lie in pairs, and on account of 

 the colour of their internal surface, present, at 

 this juncture, a highly beautiful spectacle ; the 

 fore part of the belly appearing as if elegantly 

 striped with red. This species blows less violently 

 than others ; and is often observed stationary, as 

 it were, or as if sleeping on thp surface, some- 

 ti^nes lying on oiie side, and sometimes striking 

 out of the water, and flapping itself with its fins, 

 as if to clear them from barnacles, &c. which 

 occasionally adhere to them. It is a very timid 

 animal, and always swims away from the Physeter 

 Microps or High-Finned Cachalot, which is its 

 o-reat enemy. Its flesh and oil are used like those 



