44 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



jaw and anterior part of upper jaw white. Whalebone on left 

 side dark, but anterior part on right side whitish. 



This seems to be the most abundant whale in this part of the 

 Atlantic and is the one most frequently cast ashore, though we 

 can find few records of its actual occurrence on the New Jersey 

 coast. 



Mr. S. N. Rhoads found a jaw bone of a whale at Beach 

 Haven about 1885, which he refers to this species, and a cran- 

 ium was washed up at Cape May in 1906, which was presented 

 to the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia by Mr. 

 Christopher Gallegher. Another is reported by Dr. F. W. True 

 as stranded at Fen wick's Island Life Saving Station, Delaware, 

 May 7th, 1896. 



Doubtless many oi the whales obtained by the early whalers 

 of Cape May belonged to this species. 



Balccna mysticetus Cassin, Hist. Delaware County, Pa., 1862, 

 p. 434. — Rhoads, Mam. of Penna. and N. J., 1903, p. 12. 



Balaenoptera acuto-rostrata LacepedS. 



Little Piked Whale; Least Rorqual. 



Plate 5. 



Length, 25 feet. More heavily built than the preceding, dor- 

 sal fin larger in proportion, its height five per cent, of total 

 length ; colors similar, joined rather abruptly on the flanks, flip- 

 pers white over basal half. 



George Ord states in Guthrie's Geography, 181 5, p. 292, that 

 a "Pike-headed Whale" was caught some years since in the Del- 

 aware near Reedy Island. Mr. Rhoads refers this, with some 

 doubt, to this species. Equally doubtful is a specimen washed 

 up on Long Beach, opposite Westecunk Creek in the fall of 1866 

 (Cope, Proceedings Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1868, p. 221). 



These whales were no doubt Fin-backs, but their specific 

 identity will always remain in doubt. This species is, however, 

 to be looked for on our coast. 



Balcunopfera acufo-rostrata Cope, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., 

 1868, p. 221. — Rhoads, Mam. Pa. and N. J., 1903, p. 11. 



