RORQUALS, OR FINNERS. 267 



BalcBua physalus, Fabricius Fauna Groenlandica, p. 35 



(1780). 

 Balcenoptera rorqual, Lacepede, Cetaces, p. 126 (1804). 

 Balce7ia antiquoriun, Fischer, Synops. Mamm. p. 525 (1829). 

 BalcBnoptera muscuhis, Companyo, Mem. de la Baleine 

 echouee pres de St. Cyprien, p. 20 (1830); Bell, British 

 Quadrupeds, 2nd ed. p. 397 (1874); Southwell, British 

 Seals and Whales, p. 70 (1881); Flower, List Cttacea 

 Brit. Mus. p. 5 (1885). 

 Balcenopiera physahis. Gray, Zool. Voy. Erebus and Terror, p. 



18 (1846). 

 Physalus a7itiquoruw, Gray, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1847, p. 90. 



Characters. — Size smaller than in the preceding species, and 

 the flippers relatively shorter ; general colour slaty-grey above, 

 and white beneath; whale-bone slate-colour, with yellow or 

 brown markings. Length of adult from 65 to 70 feet. 



Distribution. — Occurring in both the Atlantic and Pacific 

 Oceans, this species has a more southerly range than the pre- 

 ceding, and is commonly found in the Mediterranean, where the 

 former species is rare. Specimens are stranded on the British 

 coasts, more especially those of the southern parts of England, 

 almost every year, generally after stormy weather, and very fre- 

 quently during the winter. It will accordingly be quite unneces- 

 sary to quote the instances of its occurrence on our coasts, and 

 we may therefore content ourselves with mentioning a few 

 specimens that have been recorded of late years. About the 

 end of October, 1885, two dead Rorquals of this species were 

 found floating in the Channel, and were towed into Plymouth, 

 where they were exhibited. Another example was stranded at 

 Skegness, in 1887 ; and it is probable that a Whale captured 

 at Sea View, in the Isle of Wight, on the 21st of September, 

 in the following year, likewise pertained to this species. Ano. 

 ther specimen, which has been described by Mr. W. Crouch, 



