MAMMALS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY. II 



taken from the Raritan River, near Sayreville, N. ]., May, 1874, by Capt. E. 

 G. Roberts. It is 42 feet long. Rhoads. 



One of this species " was captured off the New Jersey coast by a crew of 

 experienced Egg Harbor whalers by the usual method of harpooning. It 

 was exhibited during several weeks of the spring of 1882 " after being brought 

 to New York City. It was not preserved. See Holder, Bull. Amer. Mus. N. 

 Hist., vol. i, p. 106. 



This is probably the species recorded by Ord in 1815 in Guthrie's Geog- 

 raphy, p. 292, as follows : " A young whale of this species \_Balaena mysticetus 

 of his list] was taken in the Delaware in the vicinity of the [Trenton] Falls 

 in the latter part of the year 1814 ; and exhibited at Philadelphia." 



" Balaena mysticetus. Has been twice known to occur within the limits of 

 Delaware County." Cassin, in History of Del. Co., Pa., 1862. 



Genus Balaenoptera Lacepede, Histoire Naturelle des Cetacees, 1803-4, p. 

 xxxvi, in Tableau des Ordres. 



Little Piked Whale ; Least Rorqual or Fin Back. Balanoptera 

 acuto-rostrata Lacepede. 



1803-4. Balanoptera acuto-rostrata Lacepede, Histoire Naturelle des 

 Cetacees, p. xxxvi, Tableau des Ordres, pp. 134, 141. 



Fauna! distribution. Atlantic Ocean, from Davis Straits to the Mediterra- 

 nean Sea and New Jersey. 



Distribution in Pa. and JV. J. Very rare on the New Jersey coast. A 

 doubtful specimen recorded from Pennsylvania waters. 



Habits, etc. This smallest of the fin-backs, rarely exceeds 30 feet in length. 

 It associates with the large rorquals and feeds largely on fish, though its 

 baleen undoubtedly enables it to net Crustacea, etc. It is distinguished from 

 other whales by its white under parts, including the under side of tail and 

 flippers, and by the broad white band which crosses the outer side of the 

 latter. The sharp, piked snout gives it its name. 



Records in Pa. and N. J. " A pike-headed whale was caught some years 

 since in the Delaware, near Reedy Island and shown in Philadelphia and 

 New York." Ord, Guthrie's Geography. 2d Amer. ed., 1815, p. 292. As 

 this specimen was subjected to 'examination, the peculiarity of its head, as 

 indicated in the specific name given by Ord, would lend color to the correct- 

 ness of the identification. It may, however, have been a Megaptera, as Ord 

 previously names it M. hoops. 



Mr. True sends me the following record of a capture : " Long Beach, N. J.,. 

 fall, 1866." This probably refers to the specimen recorded by Cope, Proc. 

 A. N. Sci., Phila., p. 221, cast ashore opposite Westecunk on the outer side 



