124 NEW- YORK FAUNA. 



is still enveloped in great obscurity ; and their habits, from the nature of the element in which 

 they exist,, are little known. They are highly useful to man, producing valuable articles of 

 commerce, and creating an excellent nursery for seamen. 



GENUS BAL^ENA. Linneus. 



Head very large. No teeth. Upper jaw furnished with numerous plates of whalebone. 

 Spiracles two, distinct, on the most elevated part of the head, just before the eyes. No 

 dorsal elevation or fin. 



THE RIGHT WHALE. 



Baljena mysticetcs. 

 plate xxxi. fig. 3. 



Baloma mysticetus. LlNNEUS, Syst. p. 105. 



Common Whale. Dudley, Phil. Trans. Abridg. Vol. 7, p. 424. Scoresby, Arct. Reg. Vol. 1, p. 449, figure GoDJtAN, 

 Vol. 3, p. 98. 



Characteristics. Black, occasionally varied with white or yellowish. Gape of the mouth 

 arched with about 600 laminae of whalebone. Length 40 - 60 feet. 



Description. Body thickest in the middle, a little behind the fore paws; somewhat furrowed, 

 tapering towards the tail. Head large, somewhat triangular. Opening of mouth large, with 

 a few scattering hairs on the end of the jaws. Eyes very small, and placed near the comer 

 of the mouth. External ear exceedingly minute. Spiracles two, oblong, adjacent, slightly 

 largish in front. Palate and sides of upper jaw with two rows of whalebone from ten to thirteen 

 feet long, and generally curved longitudinally, and giving an arched form to the roof of the 

 mouth. Each series consists of three hundred laminae or more of whalebone, the interior edges 

 of which are covered with a hair-like fringe. Swimming paws rounded, somewhat pointed, 

 7-9 feet long, with a width of 4 or 5 feet, and situated about two feet behind the angle of 

 the mouth. Tail very broad, notched in the centre, curved on the edges, and pointed at the tips. 



Color. Blackish throughout ; occasionally with a small space under the body, and a larger 

 space on the lower jaw, whitish grey or flesh color. Very old individuals become varied with 

 white and black, or piebald. 



Weight from 60 to 100 tons. 



This huge animal is known along our coast by the various names of True, Right, Common 

 and Whalebone Whale. Of its habits little can be said, except that after a presumed gestation 

 of nine months, it produces one at a birth, which it suckles for about a year. The milk is 

 said to be rich and well flavored. It exhibits great maternal fondness for its offspring, and 

 although at other times remarkably timid, manifests great boldness, and even ferocity, in de- 



