THE RORQUAL WHALE. 
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the lower part of the mouth into a kind of huge pouch, which is capable of containing a very 
large volume of water and marine animals. The tongue is not tied down as in the Greenland 
Whale, but is free towards the apex, and almost as capable of movement as that of man. 
It is a native of the seas that wash the coasts of Greenland, and is sometimes seen near 
Iceland and Norway, descending but rarely into warmer latitudes. The flesh of this animal is 
in some repute for its delicacy, and is therefore much coveted by the natives of these northern 
regions. They do not, however, attempt to harpoon the creature, on account of its great 
activity, but content themselves with inflicting severe wounds with their darts and spears, in 
the hopes that the wounded animal may die, and may in time be stranded on their coasts. 
The oil which it furnishes is said to be particularly delicate. 
The Pike Whale feeds not only on the little creatures that form the food of the Greenland 
PIKE WHALE .— Balcenoptera rostrata. 
Whale, but chases and kills the active salmon and other fish. In the stomach of one of these 
animals have been found the remains of various fish, those of the dog-fish being the most 
prevalent. The head of this species is elongated and rather flattened, and the throat and chest 
are furnished with very deep longitudinal folds, which are capable of dilatation to a great 
extent. 
At the extremity of the snout there are eight distinct bristles, arranged in perpendicular 
rows on the top of each jaw. It has been called by a great number of names by different 
writers, and is mentioned by various authors under no less than seventeen distinct titles. 
The color of this animal is black upon the upper parts of the body, and white on the abdo- 
men, tinged with a reddish hue. The pectoral fin is almost entirely dark, but changes into 
white on its upper surface, near its base. 
The name Balsenoptera signifies “Finned- Whale,” and is given to the animal on account 
of the size of the pectoral fins. 
A giant among giant forms, the huge Rokqttal roams the Arctic seas at will, seldom 
molested by the hunter, and scarcely ever captured. 
