GIANTS OF THE DEEP 



3i9 



being able to remain in the vast recesses of the mighty deep for 

 several hours at a stretch. 



COMMON FIN-WHALE, OIL RORQUAL.— The Common Fin-Whale, 

 or Rorqual, is a much larger animal, as it grows to a length of 

 sixty to seventy feet. It has an elongated body, fairly lengthy 

 jaws, and long flippers. It is slate-grey on the upper parts and 

 white beneath. 



This is a common Cetacean, occurring in numbers "throughout 

 the more northern seas of Europe, ranging as far as the 70th or 75th 

 parallels of latitude. It is likewise widely distributed in American 

 waters, where it is commonly known as the Fin-Back ; and it appears 

 that the so-called Southern Fin-Whale of New Zealand is not 

 specifically separable." 



SIBBALD'S FIN-WHALE.— The largest Rorqual of all is Sibbald's 

 Fin-Whale, for this species attains a length of from seventy to 

 eighty odd feet. Indeed, Mr. Lydekker says it enjoys the distinction 

 of being the largest of living animals. In colour it is dark-greyish- 

 blue, spotted with white on the chest. The American whalers call 

 this animal the "Sulphur Bottom," by reason of the "more or less 

 marked yellowish tinge on the under surface of the body, which has 

 given origin to the popular name." 



Sibbald's Fin-Whale passes the Winter amid the storms of the 

 wide open sea, a typical oceanic species during that season ; but 

 when the cares of parentage come upon it in the Spring, it migrates 

 northwards and clings near the coast. The food is made up of 

 crustaceans and fish, and although not exhibiting the daring of 

 the Common Rorqual, it will follow a ship for several days at a 

 stretch, and "is considered to be the fastest of all the larger 

 Cetaceans." 



SPERM WHALE.— We now come to the Toothed Whales, and of 

 these the Sperm Whale is the first representative. From none of 

 the remaining species on our list is whalebone to be obtained, and 

 beyond this these Toothed Whales are characterized by the posses- 

 sion of permanent teeth, at any rate in the bottom jaw. There are 

 several other structural distinctions, but these need not detain us. 



The Sperm Whale is a large beast which attains a length of 

 from fifty to sixty feet, although the female is not much more than 

 half the proportions of her mate. The Cachalot, as it is also called, 

 has a tremendous head, and has from twenty to twenty-five teeth on 

 each side of the lower jaw. It is difficult to accurately determine, 



