126 GREAT NORTHERN RORQUAL. 



naeus, the Broad-nosed whale of Scorseby, and the 

 Rorqual of Bonnaterre and Lacepede. 



But it admits not of a doubt, that, up to the 

 present time, there exists not the vestige of evidence 

 in the records of Cetology, of the existence of 

 the gibbar or physalis. True it is that systematic 

 writers give very circumstantial accounts of it, but 

 few, if any, from their own observations ; and Mr. 

 Scorseby, in his interesting notices respecting it, says 

 it is " supplied with distinct rugce or sulci ;" whence 

 it clearly follows it is a true Rorqual. "With regard 

 to the specific differences assigned to the others, wo 

 shall only state, in a word, that as great difficulties 

 and objections stand in the way of their being ad- 

 mitted as estabUshed varieties. "We do not expressly 

 deny that some of them may be real species, and 

 may differ from each other ; but we assert, after the 

 example of Cuvier, that these still remain to be 

 pointed out and demonstrated ; and in the meanwhile 

 it \\ill be understood, that the remarks which follow 

 respecting this genus, apply to the facts really ascer- 

 tained concerning all the forenamed alleged species. 



The northern Rorqual is the largest of the whaLe 

 tribe, the mightiest giant of them all, and probably 

 the most powerful and bulky of created beings. Its 

 head is to the entire length, as one to four. It 

 differs from the Mysticetus, in its body being longer 

 and more slender ; in its form being less cylindrical ; 

 in having a dorsal fin ; in its skin or blubber being 

 much thinner, usually not exceeding six inches ; 

 in its speed being greater, its action quicker and 



