THE RIGHT WHALE. 
423 
young Whales, before the baleen has developed itself, are technically termed “suckers,” and 
when the baleen is six feet in length, they are called by the name of “size.” 
The tongue of this Whale cannot be protruded from the mouth, as it is fixed throughout 
its entire length. It is very large, soft, and full of oil, so soft, indeed, that a man can make a 
depression deep enough to contain his closed fist by a tolerably strong pressure ; as I can 
testify by personal experience. The bones are porous and are very full of oil, the jawbones 
being so heavily charged with this valuable substance that they are removed from the animal, 
and so fastened in the rigging as to permit the oil to drain from them. 
When the Greenland Whale is undisturbed, it generally remains at the surface of the 
water for ten minutes, and “ spouts ” eight or nine times. It then descends for a short time, 
from five to twenty minutes, and returns again to the surface for the purpose of respiration,. 
But when harpooned, it dives to a very great depth, and does not return to the surface until 
half an hour has elapsed. By noticing the direction of the line which is attached to the 
harpoon, the whalers judge of the spot in which the creature will rise, and generally contrive 
to be so near their victim when it emerges'that they can fix another harpoon, or strike it with a 
lance before it can again descend into the depths of the ocean. 
Several species of the genus Bahona are found inhabiting the different oceans of our 
globe, such as the Western Australian Whale, the Cape Whale, the Japan Whale, the New 
Zealand Whale, the Scrag Whale, and others, of which the best known is the Cape Whale, or 
Southern Whale, as it is sometimes called. 
This animal attains a considerable size, reaching the length of seventy feet when full grown, 
the length of its head being sixteen feet. It inhabits the Southern Ocean, and is often seen in 
the bays that adjoin the Cape of Good Hope in the months of June, July, and August, as the 
female is in the habit of frequenting these localities during the infancy of her young. The 
males are very seldom seen near their mates, so that out of sixty Cape Whales that were killed 
in False Bay only one was a male. The color of this animal is a uniform black. 
The Balcenidce , or Family of Whalebone Whales, is represented by few species. The 
principal characteristic of this group is the series of whalebone plates situated in the upper 
portion of the mouth. These plates are called baleen, hence the family designation. 
Though this is one of the largest creatures, yet its food is of the delicate jelly-animals that 
form vast areas upon the surface of the ocean. The (Esophagus or “ swallow ” of these Whales 
is no larger than one’s fist, which shows that the jelly -food is natural to it. In feeding, the 
Baleen Whales open the mouth widely, and rush through a mass of jellies, filling the mouth 
with both food and water. A valvular arrangement prevents the passage of water into the 
stomach, while the tongue presses the food against the roof of the mouth. This action forces 
the water out through the baleen plates, which acts as sieves. The morsel is then swallowed. 
These Whales are remarkable for the comparative size of their heads ; that of the Balcena 
mysticetus , or Greenland Whale, being one-third its whole bulk. 
The Greenland Whale ( Bdlcena mysticetus ), called also the Common Whalebone Whale, 
is the most familiar cetacean known, especially as it is the notable creature that supplies our 
burning-oil in such immense quantities. It is known to the “toilers of the' sea ” as the Right 
Whale, and this because it is the right one to kill, as distinguished from other less desirable 
species. 
The Bow-head and Great Polar Whale are terms also applied to this animal. Captain 
Scoresby’s figure of the Polar Whale is incorrect as to its tail, or “small” of body. His 
figure, which has served for all others up to the present time, shows the tail uplifted. The 
true figure should give a shorter “small.” The tail of this Whale cannot be bent, as in his 
figure. All published figures of this Whale, save Captain Scammon’s, are incorrect. 
The Atlantic Right Whale ( Balcena cisarcticcL , Cope) is a rediscovery in one sense. 
About the time of the first settlement of this country, our forefathers found the aborigines 
pursuing this Whale for the several purposes of half-civilized life. 
Soon the whites found the oil and baleen valuable articles of commerce, and small vessels 
were fitted out to capture the Whales in greater numbers. At the period of our Revolution* 
