NO. 1864 LIVING WHITIC WHALES — TRUE 327 



ridge-like shape about opposite the insertion of the pectorals, while 

 the dorsal ridge, or fin, itself began about opposite the tips of these 

 limbs when laid backward. The sharpness of the back in front of 

 the dorsal fin nearly disappeared when the head was raised. A 

 rounded ridge, or swelling, extended from the pectoral to the orifice 

 of the ear. The posterior edge of the pectorals, or that nearest the 

 body, was curved upward, as was also the outer edge, but in much 

 less degree. 



This female (specimen B) was constantly in motion, swimming 

 back and forth across the tank in an irregular fashion. It usually re- 

 mained under water from 2 to 3 minutes, then came to the surface 

 with the head up, and spouted 5 or 6 times irregularly, lying be- 

 tween times with the top of the back out of water. Its swimming 

 movements were also irregular. It sometimes "rolled," as dolphins 

 do at sea — that is, with an undulating motion in a vertical plane. 

 At other times it turned about lazily from side to side. Occasionally 

 it turned suddenly on its side and gave a sharp stroke with its 

 flukes, causing the body to move in a curve, but much of the time 

 it remained motionless with a curved portion of the back out of 

 water from about opposite the insertion of the pectorals to the 

 posterior end of the dorsal fin, and both head and flukes curved 

 downward. The head was occasionally turned from side to side 

 at a considerable angle. 



This whale, as already mentioned, spouted 5 or 6 times at irregu- 

 lar intervals of a few seconds each, after which it went down quite 

 suddenly and remained under water from i to 5 minutes. At the 

 expiration there was a distinct rather metallic sound, and at the 

 same time drops of water ascended in a curve and fell forward 

 invariably some 3 or 4 feet beyond the head of the whale. A gentler 

 sound sometimes accompanied the inspiration, but it was usually 

 noiseless. 



The whale moved by strokes of the flukes. The flukes were held 

 downward much of the time, with the two lobes in the same plane, 

 but occasionally the lobes were at different angles, probably from 

 unequal pressure of the water. The flukes were not put out of 

 water at any time while the whale was under observation, although 

 an attendant stated that it sometimes put them out. In sounding 

 they were turned upward, but did not quite reach the surface. The 

 whole tail was extremely flexible, and as it was turned about, the 

 flukes were often at an angle with the surface of the water, but no 

 screw-like motion was observable in them. They seemed, however, 

 soft and flexible. 



