26 
FORM AND PECULIARITIES 
strengthened by numerous strong tendinous fibres, and 
infiltrated with very fine sperm oil and spermaceti. 
The mouth extends nearly the whole length of the 
head. Both the jaws, but especially the lower, are in 
front contracted to a very narrow point, and when the 
mouth is closed, the lower jaw is received within a sort 
of cartilaginous lip, or projection of the upper one ; but 
principally in front, for further back, at the sides, and 
towards the angle of the mouth, both jaws are furnished 
with tolerably well developed lips : in the lower jaw 
are forty-two teeth, of a formidable size, but conical 
shape ; there are none, however, in the upper, which 
instead presents depressions corresponding to, and for 
the reception of, the points of those in the lower jaw,— 
sometimes, however, a few rudimentary teeth may be 
found situated in the upper jaw, but never projecting 
beyond the gums, and upon which those in the lower 
jaw strike when the mouth is closed. 
The tongue is small, of a white colour, and does not 
appear to possess the power of very extended motion. 
The throat is capacious enough to give passage to the 
body of a man ; In this respect presenting a strong con- 
trast with the contracted gullet of the Greenland whale. 
The mouth is lined throughout with a pearly white 
membrane, which becomes continuous at the lips, and 
borders with the common integument, where it becomes 
of a dark-brown or black colour. 
The eyes are small, in comparison with the size of the 
animal, and are furnished with eyelids, the lower of 
which is the more moveable : they are placed a little 
