1 64 A BOOK OF WHALES 



They are never so numerous, it will be noted, 

 as in Bal&noptera. Scammon has found that this 

 whale varies more than others in the production of 

 oil, a circumstance which would seem to be dependent 

 on the condition of the animal at the time of capture. 

 It also depends upon sex and the period of breeding, 

 for the female, when accompanied by a cub to whom 

 she is giving suck, has less blubber than at other 

 times. The baleen of this whale, as in the case of the 

 Rorquals, is not longer than two to three feet. 



The only species of the genus that can be 

 safely allowed at present is Megaptera longimana, 

 Rudolphi,* of which the following must then be 

 regarded as merely synonyms : - 



Balccua hoops, Fabricius; B. poeskop,} Desmoulins; 

 B. lalandii, Fischer ; Baltenoptera capensis, Smith ; 

 Baltznoptera leucopteron, Lesson ; Megaptera novae 

 zelandiae, Gray ; Megaptera burmeisteri, Gray ; 

 Megaptera americana, Gray ; Balcena antarctica, 

 Temminck ; M. kuzira, Gray ; M. versabilis, Cope ; 

 M. osphyia, Cope. 



Notwithstanding the immense variety of names 

 given in the above synonyms, Sir W. Flower and 

 most others think that there is but a single Hump- 

 backed whale of universal range. As to a goodly 



* Abh. Ak. Berlin, 1829, p. 133. 



t This is not, as perhaps might be imagined, a classical word 

 significant of the possible affinities of the Cetacea, and meaning "one 

 who gazes upon the grass." It is Dutch in origin, obvious in meaning, 

 but untranslatable here. 



