160 CETACEA. 



Balsenoptera Boops. 



BakBnoptera Boops, Keys. u. Blas. Wirbelth. Europ. p. 75 ; Bell, 



Brit. Quad. 

 Balcena rostrata, Sciiinz, Eiirop. Faun. vol. i. p. 96. 

 Northern Rorqual, or Fin-fish. 



DESCRiPTioif . — The Rorqual differs from the true Balaena in 

 the general form of the body, which is more elongated ; 

 the head in particular is more slender and attenuated at the 

 muzzle ; the presence of a dorsal fin is also a distinguishing 

 mark. From the lower hp to the abdomen run a number 

 of longitudinal folds of skin, which are said to have given 

 the animal its name of E-orqual, signifying, in the Nor- 

 wegian language, a Whale with folds. The whalebone is 

 comparatively short, and the yield of oil less plentiful than 

 in the other Whales. 



It is the largest of the family, and consequently of all 

 living animals, sometimes reaching the enormous length of 

 80 or 100 feet. 



It feeds not only upon mollusca and small Crustacea, but 

 also upon fish of considerable size. Is of not unfrequent 

 occurrence on the British coasts, being often seen off the 

 Orkneys and Shetland, and is very common in the Northern 

 Seas. 



