THE HUMP-BACK WHALE 51 



than four miles an hour. It feeds on small animals floating at 

 or near the surface of the sea. 



Genus Neohalaena. 

 Head about one-fourth of the total length. A small falcate 

 dorsal fin. 



Australian Whale. 



Neoljolaena margin ata. 

 Baleen yellowish white, with a narrow back margin. Length of the 

 whole animal, 20 feet. Of the baleen, 2 feet. New Zealand and Aus- 

 tralia. Found on all parts of the coast, but said by the whalers to be 

 rare. 



Genus Megaptera. 

 Head moderate. Skin of the throat plicated. The dorsal fin 

 very low. Flippers long and narrow, about one-fourth of the 

 length of the animal. 



The Hump-back. — Pakake. 



Megaptera hoops. 



Black, except the flippers, which are white. Baleen black. Usual 

 length, 45 to 50 feet. 



The hump-back is known by its long flippers, which are 

 indented along the margins. This whale is solitary in habit, and 

 the baleen is short and coarse. The hump-back is found in many 

 seas. According to Captain Scammon, it is irregular in its 

 movements, seldom going in a straight course for any considerable 

 distance; at one time, he sa^'s, these whales may be seen moving 

 about in large numbers, scattered over the sea as far as the eye 

 can reach from the masthead, at other times singly. 



Genus Balaenoptera. 

 Head small and flat. Skin of the throat plicated. A small 

 falcate dorsal fin. Flipper small and pointed. Baleen short and 

 coarse. Length of the baleen, three or four times the breadth 

 at the base. 



Key to tJie Species. 

 Baleen black. B. sibbaldi. 



Baleen slate-blue. B. musculus. 



Baleen yellowish white. B. rostrata. 



