CETACEA. 



fins (Balana) is elongate, much longer than broad at the base, 

 and gradually attenuated, and edged with a fringe of equal, 

 lengthened, fine, soft bristles. The baleen is internally formed 

 of a thin layer of fibres covered on each side with a thick coat of 

 ' enamel ' ; when dry and out of the mouth, the blades are flat. 



The whalebone of the plaited-bellied whale with a bunch 

 (Megaptera) or a dorsal fin (Balcenoptera) is short, broad, trian- 

 gular, not much longer than broad at the base, and rapidly atte- 

 nuated, and is edged with a series (sometimes rather crowded) 

 of elongate, rigid, unequal bristle-like fibres, which become much 

 thicker and more rigid near and at the tip ; the baleen is inter- 

 nally formed of a more or less thick layer of thick fibres, covered 

 on each side with a thin layer of enamel, and w r hen dry and out 

 of the palate they are curled up and somewhat spirally twisted. 



The baleen of the Balance is alone designated Whalebone (or ra- 

 ther Whale-fin, as it is usually called) in commerce. The baleen of 

 the other genera of this family is called Finner-fin or Humpback- 

 fin. The wholesale dealers in baleen, in the * London Directory,' 

 are called Whale-fin Merchants, and whalebone occurs under the 

 name of Whale-fin in the Price-current. In the s London New 

 Price-current' for 1843, the South Sea Whale-fin varied during 

 that year from 200/. to 305/. per ton, and there is no price named 

 for Greenland Whale-fin. See Maccul. Com. Diet. i. 1344. 



The baleen was formerly thought to be the tail of the animal. 

 See Blackstone, Commen. i. 233, quoted by Macculloch, Commer- 

 cial Diet. 1344. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE GENEBA. 



a. Dorsal fin none. Belly smooth. Baleen elongate, slender. 

 1. BAL^ENA. 



b. Dorsal Jin distinct. Belly plaited. Baleen broad, short. 

 "2, MEGAPTERA. Pectoral fins elongate. Dorsal fin low. 



3. BALCENOPTERA. Pectoral fins moderate. Dorsal fin falcate, 



f length from nose. Vertebrae 46 or 48. 



4. PHYSALUS. Pectoral fins moderate. Dorsal fin falcate, 



f length from nose. Vertebras 54 or 64. 



A. Back not finned. Baleen elongate, slender, straight, Belly 

 smooth. 



1. BAL^NA. RIGHT WHALES. 



Head rather blunt, swollen, with a slight beard, consisting of a 

 few scattered white hairs on the anterior extremity of both jaws. 

 Scoresby, Arct. Regions, i. 458. The baleen or whalebone is 



A5 



