318 THE BOOK OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM 



been forthcoming, in others eight or ten barrels, or even less, may 

 be considered a good average. 



FIN-WHALES, OR RORQUALS.— We are still among the Whale- 

 bone, or Toothless, Whales, but the last representatives of these 

 species brings us to the Fin- Whales, or Rorquals. They are also 

 known as Fin-Backs, or Razor-Backs, and there are four well-known 

 kinds. All these are distinguished from the last species with which 

 we made acquaintance by having a more elongated and slender form 

 and smaller heads. The flippers, too, are shorter, and are narrow 

 and pointed. These Rorquals are the commonest Whales we have, 

 and this is not difficult to account for when it is remembered that, 

 in addition to being possessed of great speed and activity, the oil 

 which they yield is comparatively small and the quality of their 

 whalebone very inferior. As a consequence of this, the Rorquals 

 have not been so relentlessly persecuted as some of their more 

 valuable cousins. The incessant warfare waged against good oil 

 and whalebone-producing species has, however, told its own tale, 

 and of recent years both these Rorquals and the Humpback have 

 been more sought after than heretofore. 



Brief reference may be made to the four species included in 

 this genus. 



LESSER FIN-WHALE.— The smallest of the four is known as the 

 Lesser Fin-Whale. It rarely attains a greater length than some 

 thirty feet, and the general colour is greyish-black above and white 

 below. This species may, however, be readily identified by means 

 of the prominent broad white band on the upper outside surface of 

 the flippers. It is a rare species in British waters, and appears to 

 be most common on the shores of Norway. All the Fin- Whales, 

 however, are of wide distribution, and "are found in nearly all seas 

 except those of the Antarctic regions." 



EDEN'S AND RUDOLPHI'S FIN- WHALES.— Eden's Fin-Whale is a 

 rare species restricted to the seas of India, and need only be men- 

 tioned in passing, and Rudolphi's Fin-Whale is rarer still. This latter 

 attains a length of about forty feet, or even more, and is bluish-black 

 on the upper parts and white below. There are oblong spots of 

 white above. Whilst the whalebone of the Lesser Fin-Whale is 

 white, that of this species is black. It is believed that Rudolphi's 

 Whale feeds exclusively on small crustaceans and does not eat fish. 

 It is a quick swimmer, and does not have to come to the surface 

 to take in a fresh supply of air so frequently as some of its relatives, 



