EXTERNAL CHARACTERS OF FIN WHALES 



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tions on whales at sea. While actually on the surface the Fin whales swim on an even 

 keel. When they sound the last part of the body to disappear is the dorsal rim of the 

 tail just above the insertion of the flukes. Our impression is that at the last moment 

 there is a slight rotation to the right, but it is difficult to say for certain and more 

 observations will be needed before the point can be confirmed. 



LENGTH OF WHALE IN METRES 



Fig. 96. Mean curve of growth of baleen in Fin whales. The plotted points represent the length of 



the baleen in individual whales. 



BALEEN 



The description already given of the development of the baleen in the Blue whale 

 foetus applies equally to its development in the Fin whale foetus, and we may proceed 

 with the growth of the baleen in relation to the growth of the whale. 



The recorded lengths of the longest plates are plotted against the length of the whale 

 in Fig. 96. Except for the records of baleen in foetuses there are in the case of Fin 

 whales, no measurements of the length of the baleen in individuals of less than 12-0 m. 



13-3 



