TllK HUMr-BACKED \\HM.B. 1. , 



whaler. ami the one who captured the first adult Atlantic Right Whale, a figure of which 

 we herewith present. led tin- cha.se. The men secured four, including, we understand, a 

 yoiini: one. We reirret thai tin- ample prv]iarations we have established to gvt full particu 

 lars uf the s|M-<-im.-iis have not us \,-i furnished any response. It is ;| matter. In. \M-M-I. 

 of great interest to know that this i :il ,. \Vl, ; ,|,. is undoubtedly increasing in nunilers. One 

 .f this shoal is rejK.rted as alniut fifty feet in length, which is pi.,l.;il.|\ tin- extent <.f this 



UNDER the term Srrai; \Vhales, a family is recognized individuals having rough bunches 

 on their backs. The baleen is white, and is only al*>ut one foot in length. 



The Scrag Whale (Ai/fij>/n-/ux //tAAort/*) is tin- only S]H.,-J,.S \,.t ,\. Drilled. It inhabit* the 

 Atlantic Ocean. It was known to the earlv settler- <.f New Kndand. 



The California (tray \Vhal.- . A'. '//,/,/ /,-/,* ,//"'/''/*, Cope) i recorded, but little in known 

 <>f its hist.. i \ ,,r |H-culiarities. The baleen in short, as in the preceding specieH. 



Th*- II ii nip-Backed Whales (Megapterida ) are distinguiahed by having a dorsal fin, and 

 \.-r\ loti^ |i-tonil lins. Several species are enumerated. 



Tin- KiniuT or Fin-lwrk Whales (Phyttalidtr} have a high dorsal fin. It should be under- 

 stood in this connection, that the tins hei>- inentioneil an- not so called in the sense that thow 

 of fishes are, as th.-\ are but thickens! jxirtions of the skin. The tails ,.f Whales are the 

 same in structure, though mascles are develoj>ed in them. The lonp-st Whale known is of 

 this group ; some examples niching one hundred fe-t. The Sperm and Right Whales are 

 much more bulky, but their length never exceeds sixty feet. 



A lai_-.- number of species are enumerated. 



The Sulphur Bottom Finner is the largest. It is common off the 1'a.iiic coast, and in the 

 waters of the Northwest. 



SEVERAL species of the HUMP-RACKED, or BUNCHKD WII.U.K-. are now known, although 

 there is very great difficulty in deriding upon the distinctions that are needful for the found- 

 ing of a species, in animals which are necessarily so far beyond our reach except on rare and 

 limited occasions. 



In all these animals the head is rather broad and flattened, and the throat and chest 

 are marked with deep longitudinal folds or "reeves," as they are termed by Dudley in 

 his account of the Hunch Whale. These folds are perceptible even on the .sides, and extend 

 as far as the fins. The hump or bunch is of no very great size, beinir only a foot or so 

 in height, and hardly larger than a man's head. These animals may easily be distinguished 

 from those of the succeeding genus by their shorter and more stout forms, the warty lip, 

 and the large and rounded nose. The skull is about one-fourth of the entire length of the 

 animal. 



The species which is figured in the illustration on following page is that of JOHNHTON'S 

 HUMP-BACKED WHALE, a species which frequently attains very considerable dimensions, 

 measuring from sixty to seventy feet in length. In spite, however, of its great size, it is not 

 sought after by the whalers, and even if it should accidentally come across the course is seldom 

 disturbed by them. Ite oil, however, is said to be superior to tliat which is furnished by the 

 Greenland Whale, and not much inferior to the oil of the Sperm Whale. 



It is an inhabitant of the Greenland seas, and is said to oe found in greater profusion 

 than any other sj,e<-ies. it is furnished with baleen, but this substance is of no very great 

 value, being short, and not splitting "kindly." like that of the Greenland Whale. When 

 dry it takes a slight twist. When tirst IM.III. the young of the Hump Whales are <le\.,id 

 of baleen, but a considerable number of rudimentary teeth are found in both jaws. The 

 spout or blow-holes are situated on the top of the head, and not on the snout like those of th> 

 Sperm Whale. 



The name Megaptera signifies "great-firmed." and in given to this genus on account of the 

 large size to which the pectoral fin extends. This member sometimes measures as much aa 

 seventeen feet in length, being equal to the head, or about one-fifth the entire length of the 



