CHAPTER V. 
THE SULPHURBOTTOM, BALZNOPTERA MUSCULUS (Linn.). 
The characters of the Sulphurbottom or Blue whale, the largest of the Finbacks 
and of all living animals, have been set forth with exactness in the writings of 
Sars (78 and 79), Collett (20), Hallas (60), and Reinhardt (75). That a similar 
or identical species frequents the Atlantic coast of North America has been known 
for a long time, but specimens have very rarely found their way into American 
museums, and exact observations on its external characters are equally hard to find. 
Fortunately, at the new southern station of the Cabot Steam Whaling Company, 
Newfoundland, Sulphurbottoms are taken in large numbers, and I had opportunities 
in the summer of 1901 to make a careful examination of numerous specimens. 
The characters ascribed to B. musculus by Sars are as follows (79, 18): 
“The length of full-grown individuals is 90 feet [Norwegian]; and it is not 
improbable that it may extend to 100 feet, so that this whale is to be regarded as 
the giant of all animals now living. 
“The body is less slender than in the ordinary Finbacks [ B. physalus], but not 
quite so thick-set as in the Little Piked whale |. acuto-rostrata]. The greatest 
depth is contained about 54 times in the total length, and the body behind the 
navel decreases in size gradually to the root of the flukes, 
“The color is everywhere, as well on the back as on the belly, uniform gray- 
blue, sometimes lighter, sometimes darker. 
“On the pectoral region is generally found a larger or smaller number of small 
milk-white spots. 
“The length of the mouth is quite great, as in full-grown individuals it may 
be contained in the total length about 44 times. The upper jaw, seen from above, 
is proportionately much broader than in the two preceding species [B. physalus 
and L. acuto-rostrata|, as it begins first to decrease in breadth at the middle of the 
length, so that the margins are quite strongly rounded and the snout rather blunt. 
“Pectoral fins proportionately larger than in the other species of the genus, but 
generally not more than 4 the total length. Their form is somewhat different, 
in that they are more falcate, with the hind angle lying anterior to the middle 
of the length of the fin. On the outer side they are of the color of the body; on 
the inner side and along the whole anterior convex margin, pure white. 
“Dorsal fin extremely small and thin, triangular, and lies far back, at the 
beginning of the last fourth of the length of the body, and a good deal behind 
a vertical line drawn through the anus. 
“Flukes about the same color on the lower side as on the upper, or a little 
lighter. 
ae Whalebone all dark blue-black.” 
149 
