266 Lloyd's natural history. 



on the evidence of this specimen that Gray gave the name by 

 which the present species is known. Hence the type-specimen _ 

 of the largest of all living animals is of British origin. Another ■ 

 large Rorqual belonging to this species was stranded in the 

 autumn of 1869 on the shore of the Firth of Forth; while 

 about the same date a female and calf were washed ashore in 

 Shetland. A Whale, doubtless belonging to this species, 

 and said to measure 90 feet in length, was found dead off 

 the north shore of Coll, in the Hebrides, in June, 1887. 



Habits. — Since this Rorqual so seldom visits the British 

 Seas, it will be unnecessary to say much about its habits. 

 It appears that during the winter months it frequents the 

 open northern seas between the North Cape and Spits- 

 bergen, and that it is not till the latter part of April or 

 beginning of May that it approaches the coasts of more 

 southern districts, when it enters the Norwegian fjords to 

 feed upon certain crustaceans which swarm in them at this 

 season. An onshore wind, or stormy weather is, however, 

 sufficient to induce the Whales, like prudent mariners, to at 

 once turn their heads seawards. In spite of its enormous 

 dimensions, it appears that this Whale feeds almost or quite 

 entirely on crustaceans, and mainly on one particular species 

 belonging to the genus Thrysatiopoda. These little crustaceans 

 are generally found in shoals, and when in pursuit of them, the 

 Rorqual passes backwards and forwards over the spots where 

 they are most numerous, closing, at intervals, its enormous 

 mouth upon those which have been captured in its passage. 

 The young are born in the autumn, and are occasionally two 

 in number. In size, the female of Sibbald's Rorqual generally 

 somewhat exceeds that of her partner. 



H. THE COMMON RORQUAL. BAL^NOPTERA MUSCULUS. 



Balcena physalus, et B. musculus^ Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol, 

 i, p. 106 (1766). 



