CHAPTER V. 



THE SULPHURBOTTOM, AL^.NOPTERA MUSCULUS (LINN.). 



The characters of the Sulphurbottom or Blue whale, the largest of the Finbacks 

 and of all living animals, have been set forth with exactness in the writings of 

 Sars (78 and 79), Collett (20), Hallas (00), and Reinhardt (75). That a similar 

 or identical species frequents the Atlantic coast of North America has been known 

 for a long time, but specimens have very rarely found their way into American 

 museums, and exact observations on its external characters are equally hard to find. 

 Fortunately, at the new southern station of the Cabot Steam Whaling Company, 

 Newfoundland, Sulphurbottoms are taken in large numbers, and I had opportunities 

 in the summer of 1901 to make a careful examination of numerous specimens. 



The characters ascribed to B. musculus by Sars are as follows (79, 1 8) : 



" The length of full-grown individuals is 90 feet [Norwegian] ; and it is not 

 improbable that it may extend to 100 feet, so that this whale is to be regarded as 

 the giant of all animals now living. 



" The body is less slender than in the ordinary Finbacks [B. phy solus], but not 

 quite so thick-set as in the Little Piked whale [B. acuto-rostratd]. The greatest 

 depth is contained about 5^ times in the total length, and the body behind the 

 navel decreases in size gradually to the root of the flukes. 



" The color is everywhere, as well on the back as on the belly, uniform gray- 

 blue, sometimes lighter, sometimes darker. 



" On the pectoral region is generally found a larger or smaller number of small 

 milk-white spots. 



"The length of the mouth is quite great, as in full-grown individuals it may 

 be contained in the total length about 4 times. The upper jaw, seen from above, 

 is proportionately much broader than in the two preceding species [B. physalus 

 and B. acuto-rostratci], as it begins first to decrease in breadth at the middle of the 

 length, so that the margins are quite strongly rounded and the snout rather blunt. 



" Pectoral fins proportionately larger than in the other species of the genus, but 

 generally not more than -$- the total length. Their form is somewhat different, 

 in that they are more falcate, with the hind angle lying anterior to the middle 

 of the length of the fin. On the outer side they are of the color of the body ; on 

 the inner side and along the whole anterior convex margin, pure white. 



"Dorsal fin extremely small and thin, triangular, and lies far back, at the 

 beginning of the last fourth of the length of the body, and a good deal behind 

 a vertical line drawn through the anus. 



" Flukes about the same color on the lower side as on the upper, or a little 

 lighter. 



" Whalebone all dark blue-black." 



149 



