FISHES. 337 
The White Whale, or Beluga, was formerly included in 
the dolphins, and it is still considered to belong to that 
family. The body is white, tinged with yellow, or rose- 
colour, and its proportions are more agreeable than those 
of most of the cetaceae. White Whales are gregarious, 
assembling in flocks or herds, and playing about with 
rapid and graceful movements. The female has two 
young ones at a time, which she watches over with the 
greatest apparent affection. They follow all her move- 
ments, and do not quit her till they are nearly full grown. 
This Whale is generally confined to the northern latitudes, 
though one was taken in the Firth of Forth in 1815. The 
oil is of excellent quality, and the flesh eats like beef. Ac- 
cording to some writers the flesh, when pickled with vin- 
egar and salt, is as well tasted as pork ; and thus the body, 
which is generally thrown away when the sailors have 
cut off the blubber, might easily be used by them as food. 
The fins and tail, also, when properly prepared, are said by 
some of the old writers on Greenland to be good eating. 
The internal membranes are said to be used by the Green- 
landers for windows, and the sinews for thread. 
