272 ALLEN: NEW ENGLAND WHALEBONE WHALES. 



(1904, p. 204) has summarized the counts as recorded by several European observers, and the 

 result indicates some variation, the extremes of which are: I 3-5, II 6-9, IV 5-8, V 3-4. The 

 extreme numbers 9 for digit II and 8 for IV were recorded from embryos by Kiikenthal. 

 These counts are greater by one than recorded by other naturalists, and the same is true of 

 Kiikenthal's figures for B. physalus. 



Pelvis. — In an adult of this species (28 feet long) Turner found the pelvic bones to be 

 fully ossified, 8 and 8.5 inches long respectively, and of the usual form in the genus. He found 

 no indication of a rudimentary femur, and concludes that the fibrous mass described by Perrin 

 (1870) as possibl}^ representing it, was merely a cross section of several tendons. 



Appearance and Actions. 



In 1906, during a cruise along the Labrador coast, I saw numbers of these small whales 

 and became somewhat familiar with their appearance. On July 18th, opposite Rigolet, which 

 is well within the estuary of Hamilton Inlet, there were half a dozen feeding a mile or less off 

 shore. For some while as I watched them they circled about in a circumscribed area, asso- 

 ciated in pairs which rose and dived in unison, to appear again after a short interval. They 

 acted as if pursuing a school of fish, possibly capelin (Mallotus). On coming to the surface, 

 they 'blew,' with a sound distinctly audible at near a mile distant, yet rarely was there a visible 

 spout. Sometimes, however, a short column of spray was seen, a result perhaps of the whale's 

 breathing before reaching the surface, and so forcing up a small amount of water. LTsually 

 these whales rise to Ijlow five times in succession, though I have counted as many as eight 

 successive breathings, and there may be three or only one. Five seemed the usual number 

 when undisturbed. The back surges to the surface immediately after exhaling, and the high 

 curved dorsal fin follows at once, without the slight interval noticeable in the Common Finback 

 and the Blue Whales, whose great length of back must first reach the surface before the dorsal 

 fin appears. The tail is not shown as the whale settles in the water, curves the body shghtly 

 downward and dives beneath the surface. In feeding, the movements seemed leisurely and 

 unhurried. On July 21st, however, as the steamer was near shore between Hopedale and 

 Double Island, we witnessed an unusual display of exuberant spirits, when a whale of this spe- 

 cies appeared off the bow 'breeching' — or leaping clear of the water. Five times it shot 

 above the surface, belly uppermost, clearing the water beautifully, and with body arched 

 slightly backward, fell on its back with a great splash. At each leap it came nearer our vessel, 

 and as it cleared the surface the beautiful pinkish tint of the white belly was clearly perceived, 

 and the white band on the flipper was markedly conspicuous. Finally its last leap brought 

 it very near, when it dived, came to the surface for a normal 'blow' and passed far to port 

 before again rising for breath. We saw many more of these little whales among the bays 



