PIKE-HEADED WHALE. 
397 
is rather narrower than the upper ; the eves are 
situated beyond the spiracle, on each side the head ; 
in the upper jaw are very numerous laminae of 
whale-bone, not above 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 towards the throat hangs a loose 
skin, like an operculum. The pectoral fins are 
large, entire on the posterior edge, but round-ere- 
nated on the anterior. The dorsal fin is of a fatty 
cartilaginous substance, and is situated on the hind 
part of the back, above the vent, and is nearly per- 
pendicular. 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 sal- 
mon, called salmo arcticus, as well as on the argo- 
nauta arctica and the ammodytcs 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 sur- 
face, 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 the sur- 
face, sometimes lying on one 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 
general enemy. Its flesh and oil are used like 
those of other whales ; and from the skinny flap at 
the root of the tongue, as well as from the intestines* 
are prepared windows by the Greenlanders* 
