Structure and Oeconomy of Whales. 427 
concluding the food, ftep by ftep, to the cefophagus ; whereas, 
it does not feem fo neceflary to have fuch management of the 
tongue in thole which have no teeth, and catch their food by 
merely opening the mouth, and fwimming upon it, or by 
having their prey carried in by the water. In the Porpoife and 
Grampus it is firm in texture, compofed of mufcle and fat, 
being pointed and fer rated on its edges, like that of the Hog. 
I11 t he Spermaceti Whale the tongue was almoft like a feather- 
bed. In the Piked Whale it was but gently raifed, hardly having 
any lateral edges, and its tip projecting but little, yet, like 
every other tongue, compofed of mufcle and fat. The extent 
between the two jaw bones in this Whale was very confidera- 
ble, taking in the whole width of the head or upper jaw, and 
of courfe including the whalebone. This extent of furface, 
between jaw and jaw, having but little projection of tongue, 
is almofi: flat from fide to fide, is extremely elaftic when con- 
tracted, and throws the inner membrane into a vaft number of 
very frnall folds, that run parallel to one another, but which 
are again thrown into a clofe ferpentine courfe by the elafticity 
of the part in a contrary direction. From the tongue being 
capable of but little motion, there is only a frnall mafs of 
mufcle required ; and from the thinnefs of the jaw bones, the 
diftance between the low T er furface of the mouth and external 
furface of the Ikin is but frnall; and this {kin being ribbed, and 
very elaftic, is capable of confiderable diftention, by which the 
cavity of the mouth can be enlarged. 
The tongue of the large Whalebone Whale, I fhould fup- 
pofe, rofe in the mouth confiderably ; the two jaws at the 
middle being kept at fuch a diftance on account of the whale- 
bone, fo that the lpace between, when the mouth is fhut, muft 
be filled up by the tongue. 
2 
Of 
