304 The Mammals of Great Britain and Ireland
an unusually thick layer of blubber, varying in thickness between 15 and 25 cm.
The head is especially rich in fat. I have mentioned before how the oil clear
and pure can be baled out of the “ forehead ” direct, but besides this the lower
jawbone especially is surrounded with blubber which even seems to dissipate
the muscles. The bones of the head, like all Whale-bones, are rich in fat. They
are therefore chopped and boiled, by which process a quantity of oil is procured
from them. On an average the Bottle-noSe is considered to yield a ton of oil;
the older individuals, however, give much more, especially "the tcendebunds,’;
a single one of which is adequate to three or four smaller or ordinary ones.’
