1 192 



THE CETACEANS 



including the inferior surface of the flukes and flippers, are white. The whalebone 

 is slate colored at the ends, with the first two or three rows white. 



The common rorqual is found rarely in the Mediterranean, but abundantly 

 throughout the more northern seas of Europe, ranging as far as the seventieth or 

 seventy-fifth parallels of latitude. It is likewise widely distributed in American 

 waters, where it is commonly known as the fin back; and it appears that the so- 

 called southern fin whale of New Zealand is not specifically separable. It is not 

 uncommon off the British coasts, two dead specimens having been found float- 

 ing in the Channel in 1885, while another was stranded at Skegness in 1887. 



THE COMMON FIN WHALE FROM A STRANDED SPECIMEN. 

 (One-one-hundred and seventy-fifth natural size.) 



The common fin whale swims with great rapidity and strength, being second in 

 this respect only to the next species, and is consequently taken with difficulty, 

 except when explosive harpoons are used. Its habits appear to be generally very 

 similar to those of the lesser fin whale, and it is described as playing around vessels 

 under way in the same manner. These whales are frequently found alone, but 

 occasionally assemble in schools of from ten to fifteen or twenty individuals. When 

 these animals come up to breathe, they inhale the air so rapidly as to produce a 

 sharp sound which may be heard at a considerable distance, and is said to be per- 

 fectly distinguishable from that produced by any other species. When about to 



