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The Right Whale’s Head — Contrasted View

           Theedgesofthesebonesarefringedwithhairyfibres,throughwhichtheRightWhalestrainsthewater,andinwhoseintricaciesheretainsthesmallfish,whenopenmouthedhegoesthroughtheseasofbritinfeedingtime.Inthecentralblindsofbone,astheystandintheirnaturalorder,therearecertaincuriousmarks,curves,hollows,andridges,wherebysomewhalemencalculatethecreature’sage,astheageofanoakbyitscircularrings.Thoughthecertaintyofthiscriterionisfarfromdemonstrable,yetithasthesavorofanalogicalprobability.Atanyrate,ifweyieldtoit,wemustgrantafargreateragetotheRightWhalethanatfirstglancewillseemreasonable.

           Inoldtimes,thereseemtohaveprevailedthemostcuriousfanciesconcerningtheseblinds.OnevoyagerinPurchascallsthemthewondrous"whiskers"insideofthewhale’smouth;another,"hogs’bristles";athirdoldgentlemaninHackluytusesthefollowingelegantlanguage:"Thereareabouttwohundredandfiftyfinsgrowingoneachsideofhisupperchop,whicharchoverhistongueoneachsideofhismouth."

           Aseveryoneknows,thesesame"hogs’bristles,""fins,""whiskers,""blinds,"orwhateveryouplease,furnishtotheladiestheirbusksandotherstiffeningcontrivances.Butinthisparticular,thedemandhaslongbeenonthedecline.ItwasinQueenAnne’stimethatthebonewasinitsglory,thefarthingalebeingthenallthefashion.

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