70 SEALS AND WHALES OF THE BRLTISH SEAS 



be distinguished externally by the great length of its flippers, which are 

 white and very conspicuous. 



Herr Collett says that this species is met with every spring, on the 

 northern coast of Norway, particularly in the Varanger Fjord ; although 

 generally occurring in small numbers, it is. occasionally found in great 

 quantities. On one occasion a steam vessel was surrounded by them as far 

 as the eye could see, and great care had to be used to avoid running against 

 them. South of the polar circle, he says it only occurs in small numbers.* 

 In August, 1880, Capt. Gray saw vast numbers of these Whales about one 

 hundred miles N.E. of Iceland; the sea, he states, seemed to be quite full of 

 them as far as he could see from the mast-head. They were accompanied 

 by a small species of " Finner," with a white band across the fin {B. rostrata). 



The total length of the animal is about 45 to 50 feet, its baleen is 

 black, and the flippers, which are white and notched at the edge, from 10 

 to 14 feet in length. 



THE COMMON RORQUAL. 



To the genus Balcznoptera belong the Rorquals or Fin-whales, the first 

 species of which is the COMMON RORQUAL, Balcenoptcra miisculus (Linn.), the 

 Balcenoptera boops of Bell's first edition, and PJiysaliis antiqiwrum of Gray. 

 This is a much more active animal than the Right-whale ; it is difficult of 

 approach, and, upon being harpooned, such is the velocity with which it 

 shoots through the water that the danger is very great ; Scoresby mentions 

 one which took out 480 fathoms of line in about one minute. In addition to 

 this, the whalebone is short and of little value, and the yield of oil small ; it 



* ' Bemserkninger til Norges Pattedyrfauna," p. loo. (Saerskilt Afryk af ' Nyt Mag. for 

 Naturvsk") 1876. 



