296 FAUNA AMERICANA. 



BalcBnoptera, Lacep. 



Superior jaw carinate, or in form of an inverted 

 roof, furnished on each side with transverse cor- 

 neous laminae, thin, serrated and fimbriated at 

 their borders. 



Blowing holes separate, and placed towards the 

 middle of the upper part of the head ; a dorsal fin 

 in some species ; nodosities or dorsal prominences 

 in others ; caecum short. 



Habit. Animals of this genus are the largest of 

 the known inhabitants of the globe, feeding on 

 fish, molusca, worms and zoophites. They have 

 no reservoir filled with adipocere like the Cacha- 

 lots, and do not like these produce ambergris, but 

 the oil which they furnish in abimdance, renders 

 them an object of great value. 



Inhabit the northern seas, occasionally visiting 

 more temperate latitudes. 



1. Subgenus. Balcena, Lacep. 



No dorsal fin. 



Species. 

 1. Balaetia mysticetus, Linn. Erxleb. Gmel. Ba- 

 Icena major., Sibbald. BalcBna vulgaris groenlan- 

 dica., Briss. Regn. Anim. p. 347, N. 1. Oth. Fabr. 

 Faun. Groenland. 32. Baleine franche^ Bonnat. 

 Cetolog. p. i. N. 1. Lacep. Hist. Nat. des Cetacees. 

 pi. L fig. 1. (Encycl. Cetolog. pi. 2. fig. L) 



