264 Lloyd's natural historv. 



Rorquals, was but seldom molested; although now, in common 

 with the latter, it is frequently hunted. At times these Whales 

 are met with in enormous " schools," so numerous, indeed, that 

 ships have to be careful to avoid collisions. At other tunes, 

 however, they may be seen singly or in pairs. During calm 

 weather, Lilljeborg states that Hump-backs may often be seen 

 resting quietly on the surface of the water, sometimes turning 

 on one side and beating themselves with their long flippers, as 

 if trying to rub off something that annoyed them. At times 

 they will come and swim fearlessly round any boats that may be 

 in their vicinity. 



THE RORQUALS, OR FINNERS. GENUS BAL^NOPTERA. 

 BalcRHoptera^ Lacepede, Hist. Nat. des Cetaces, Table des 

 Ordres, p. xxxvi. (1804). 

 Distinguished from Megapfera by the long and slender form 

 of the body, the relatively small, flat, and pointed head, and 

 the short, narrow, and pointed flippers, as well as by the more 

 numerous and more closely approximated groovings in the skin 

 of the throat. 



Rorquals include the largest of all Whales, and are repre- 

 sented by four well-defined species, which appear to have an 

 almost world-wide distribution, although not ranging into the 

 polar oceans. All are characterised by their great speed, and 

 as they are of much less commercial value than the Right 

 Whales, they were but little hunted, until the increasing 

 scarcity of the latter, coupled with the introduction of steam- 

 vessels and firearms into the whaling trade, rendered their 

 pursuit a profitable business. 



\. sibbald's rorqual, bal^noptera sibbaldl 

 Physahis {Rorqualus) sibbaldii, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1847, 

 p. 92. 



