FIN WHALES, OR RORQUALS 1193 



descend, Captain Scammon says that this finner "assumes a variety of positions, 

 sometimes rolling over nearly on its side, at other times rounding, or perhaps 

 heaving, it flukes out, and assuming nearly a perpendicular attitude. Frequently 

 it remains on the surface, making a regular course and several uniform ' blows.' " 

 The food of the species is mainly fish, and the quantity of cod it consumes is 

 enormous. 



The gigantic Sibbald's fin whale (B. sibbaldf) the "sulphur- 



, bottom " of the American whalers enjoys the distinction of being the 

 Fin Whale . 



largest of living animals. It is a somewhat stouter-built species than 



the last, and commonly attains a length of from seventy to eighty feet, and occa- 

 sionally reaches eighty-five feet, or perhaps more. .The general color is daVk bluish 

 gray, with some white spots on the chest, the lower edges and under surface of the 

 flippers being white. In American specimens at least, there is, however, a more or 

 less marked yellowish tinge on the under surface of the body, which has given origin 

 to the popular name. The flippers are longer than in either of the other species, 

 measuring one-seventh of the entire length, and the jaws are also of more than usual 

 proportionate size. The back fin is small, and situated comparatively near the tail. 

 The whalebone is black, and there are usually sixteen- pairs of ribs, against fifteen 

 in the preceding species. 



This finner has a wide distribution, and in the Northern Hemisphere, after pass- 

 ing the winters in the open sea, migrates northward in the spring toward the coasts 

 for the purpose of breeding. In the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, Sibbald's 

 whale is represented by a closely-allied species of variety (B. indica}, which attains 

 a length of upward of ninety feet, and is said to have a somewhat more slender lower 

 jaw than the European form. Whether this whale be a distinct species, or, as is 

 more probable, a local race, it differs somewhat in habits, as it has been observed in 

 the warm Indian seas during the summer months when the true Sibbald's whale is 

 visiting the cool shores of Norway. In the Pacific this species is to be found at all 

 seasons on the coasts of California, thus tending to show that the Indian finner is 

 not specifically distinct. Examples of Sibbald's whale have been taken in the Firth 

 of Forth. 



During the period of their sojourn on the Norwegian coasts, these whales sub- 

 sist exclusively on crustaceans, and when in pursuit of these small creatures they 

 may frequently be seen swimming on their sides. At other times, however, they 

 feed largely on sardines, sprats and other fish. When near the shore, they may 

 sometimes be seen playing around vessels at anchor, but as a rule they do not 

 exhibit the same boldness as the common rorqual, although they will occasionally 

 follow in a ship's wake for long distances. In one instance it is recorded that a 

 whale of this species, in spite of having been repeatedly fired upon, pursued a vessel 

 for upward of twenty-four days. Sibbald's whale is considered to be the fastest of 

 all the larger Cetaceans; it but seldom "breaches," yet when it does so, it exhibits 

 its splendid proportions and its marvelous activity to the fullest degree. Captain 

 Scammon writes that, " in contemplating this, the greatest whale of the ocean, one 

 can but admire its prominent characteristics, which are its enormous, yet symmet- 

 rical proportions, and the muscular development which enables it to excel in velocity 



