300 • ALLEN: NEW ENGLAND WHALEBONE WHALES. 



in part on whether or not the whale is feeding and the depth to which it must go to obtain 

 food. 



The spout is of characteristic appearance. It issues as a single column, and at once expands 

 to a broad balloon-shaped cloud, that shortly is dissipated in the air. This is quite different 

 from the high narrow column of the larger Rorquals. Andrews (1909) considers that fifteen 

 feet is a maximum height and ordinarily it seems less. The sound produced by the expulsion 

 of the breath is described as a "metallic whisthng" (Andrews) and Rawitz (1900) even supposes 

 that this sound may be modulated so as to produce several different tones, but it may be doubted 

 if this is an effect consciously produced, as that author seems to think. Racovitza (1903), 

 who several times in the Antarctic seas stood almost over a Humpback spouting at the side 

 of the vessel, testifies that the breath of the huge creature possesses a very nauseating odor, 

 due possibly to mucous secretion of the nasal passages. Goodall (1913) who had an opportu- 

 nity of seeing a wounded Humpback blow at a distance of about twenty feet, describes the fleshy 

 ridge at either side of the blowholes as resembling lips. "In the act of expiration these 'lips' 

 are erected on either side, and then directly after the inspiration they fall over the openings, 

 and thus effectually close them." 



Besides these characteristic movements accompanying the breathing and diving actions, 

 the Humpback is noted for its lively manners in what seems to be play or excitement. Often 

 they will thrust a large portion of the head obliquely out of the water. At other times, they 

 turn on their side and show the pectoral fin or a fluke of the tail above water, especially in 

 feeding. Rawitz states that in closing the huge mouth while feeding, the Humpback turns 

 nearly over on its back, but Andrews does not corroborate this statement. At times this whale 

 will thrust the flukes and a portion of the peduncle above the surface, and thrash the water into 

 foam with powerful strokes, or the movement is less active (Andrews, 1909). This is the so- 

 called 'lob-tailing.' More interesting still is the remarkable habit of jumping or 'breaching.' 

 Andrews (1909) has lately observed these movements in the Pacific Humpback. He states 

 that the whale usually emerges from the water in a nearly vertical position, coming out clear, 

 so as to show even the tips of the flukes and invariably falls back upon its side with a great 

 splash. Struthers (1889) writing of the Humpback killed in the Firth of Tay, Scotland, says 

 that it rose, seemingly for two thirds of its length almost perpendicularly out of the water, 

 flapped its enormous paddles, and then fell to one side. This it once did thrice in succession. 

 At other times very little of this activity is shown, but the animals behave as calmly as a Fin- 

 back. The tremendous size of the pectoral fins suggests some special use. It may be that 

 they are used in swimming to propel the body, when, for example, the tail is above the surface. 

 An analogy is suggested among the seals. For whereas the Harbor Seal with its short fore 

 flippers, uses the hinder extremities for propulsion, the Sea Lion with its long fore limbs uses 

 these instead, to row itself about. Observations on the use of the fore limbs in the Hump-. 



