98 
Natural Hiftory 
‘eat! to be of the higheft Importance, to the Preferyation 
- and Well-being of this extraordinary compound Animal. 
The Membrane, or Bladder, as you trace it downwards, 
clofes round the Stem, and becomes a Cuticle to it, covering 
it the whole Length, till it ends in a Cartilage at Bottom. 
This Stem, which is of an Ivory-colour, is roluaneaiaatl 7 
with a Groove on each Side; and continues increafing very 
gradually in Thicknefs, from a very {lender Beginning to One- 
fourth of an Inch fquare, and in Length to above fix Feet, — 
till it comes to within four or five Inches of the Bafe, where 
it begins to contraé&t, and come to a Point, as. at Fig. E. 
This Part is covered with a brownith yellow Cartilage, 
which is here laid open, to fhew the ae, OF the Dai 
or ivory Part in the Middle of 1 it. , 
Fig. D; reprefents the lower Part of the Seer sha ihe 
Membrane, or Guticle, begins to grow cartilaginous; and is 
the natural Appearance of the Bafe of the ciate the Aur 
that is laid open at Fig. E. 
Fig. J, thews a {mall Part of he Ginicle rable oft ea tae 
per Part of the Stem. 
Fig. C, reprefents a Past of the ates twifted, rah De- 
gree of Force muft have happened to it, when it was ina 
younger and fofter State. 
Fig. H, isa crofs Section of the Stem sat dean thewing 
the feveral femiciccular Lasmina, ingloling one another in 
the feveral Quarters. 
Upon endeavouring to cut off a Slice bf the Stem, it grated 
againft the Knife, as if it were partly Stone, and partly 
Ivory. : 
Upon 
