FIN WHALES 247 



commercial value. Fin-whales are all of long slender build, and may be regarded 

 as the racers of their tribe. In habits they are migratory, the northern forms 

 visiting Norway, Iceland, and even Greenland in summer, and returning in winter 

 to warmer seas. Of the four species inhabiting the seas of the Northern Hemisphere, 

 the common fin-whale, or rorqual (Balcenoptera musculus), rarely exceeds 70 feet 

 in length, and has relatively long jaws and a long slender body. It is dark slaty 

 grey above, and often white beneath and on the inner side of the flippers. The 

 dark colour of the upper-parts generally extends to the left side of the lower jaw, 

 and the white of the under-parts to the right side of the same, this difference in 

 the coloration of the two sides corresponding to a want of symmetry in the skull 

 common to many whales. The first few plates of whalebone are white, and the 

 others dark-coloured with grey tips. This finner seldom visits the Mediterranean, 

 but is otherwise well represented in European seas ; it also extends along the coast 

 of North America, and may occur in New Zealand waters, as the so-called southern 

 rorqual does not appear specifically separable. It feeds largely on fish, devouring 

 enormous quantities of herring, and though often found alone, is frequently noticed 

 in shoals of from ten to twenty head. When about to dive, it turns almost on to one 

 side, and at times stands almost vertically for a moment or so in the water. Its 

 breathing is so rapid and so powerful as to cause a loud noise, by means of which 

 this species is said to be distinguishable from its allies. 



The whalers of Finmarken recognise three varieties, or phases, of this rorqual 

 — namely, a darker, a lighter, and a yellowish. The dark phase is stated to be met 

 with in company with shoals of herrings. These rorquals usually arrive off" the 

 Faroes in the middle of June, coming from the south-west and proceeding in a 

 north-easterly direction ; the immigration lasting till about the middle of July. 

 Early in August they commence their return journey southwards, when they keep 

 principally to the south side of the islands. By the end of the same month nearly 

 all have left the Faroes. They arrive off Finmarken in two divisions, the first of 

 which is composed of members of the dark phase. These dark whales arrive early 

 in March and advance in an easterly direction, but do not, as a rule, go beyond the 

 Varanger Fiord, whence they return in April along the coast ; the migration being 

 completed by the end of that month. The second division consists chiefly of the 

 two lighter-coloured phases ; and it seems probable that it is this light-coloured 

 phase which is taken off Mayo feeding on shrimps, etc. The members of this 

 second division reach the Faroes in the first half of June, and are then met with 

 about fifteen miles off Soro, where they stay till about the beginning of July, when 

 they move eastwards as far as Baadsfiord, whence they disappear in a north- 

 easterly direction. 



The gigantic Sibbald's fin- whale (B. sibbaldi) generally has 16 pairs of ribs, or 

 one more than the common species, from which it differs by the stouter body. It 

 attains a length of 85 feet, and is the largest of existing animals. This species 

 may always be recognised by the long flippers, as well as by the small size and 

 position of the back-fin, which is situated close to the tail. In colour it is dark 

 bluish grey, with a few white spots on the chest and the inner side and edges 

 of the flippers. The whalebone is black. This finner is said to swim faster than 

 any other whale, and when gliding along the surface of the sea occasionally shows 



