THE BROAD-NOSED WHALE. 141 



as the 80th degree of latitude. In open seasons it 

 is seen near the headland at an earlier period. A 

 whale, probably of this kind, 101 feet in length, 

 was stranded on the banks of the Humber, about the 

 middle of September, 1750. 



Species III. — The Broad-nosed Whale. 



Balaena Musculus; L. 

 Bakmoptera Rorqual: La Cepede. 



This species of whale frequents the coasts of Scot- 

 land, Ireland, and Norway, &c. and is said to feed 

 principally upon herrings. Several characters of 

 the musculus very much resemble those of the phy- 

 salis, though I believe there is an essential differ- 

 ence between the two animals; the musculus beiug 

 shorter, having a larger head and mouth, and rounder 

 under jaw, than the physalis. Several individuals, 

 apparently of this kind, have been stranded or kill- 

 ed on different parts of the coast of the United 

 Kingdom. One, 52 feet in length, was stranded 

 near Eyemouth, June 19th, 1752. Another, near- 

 ly 70 feet in length, ran ashore on the coast of Corn- 

 wall, on the 18th, of June, 1797* Three were kill- 

 ed on the northwest coast of Ireland, in the year 

 1762, and two in 1763; one or two have been killed 

 in the Thames, and one was embayed and killed in 



