20 CETACEANS. 



resorts to these on the East. In 1885 the coasts of that country were visited by 

 enormous numbers of this species, while the larger finners and humpbacks which 

 usually resort there did not appear at all ; and during that summer no less than 

 771 specimens were killed. 



Rudolphi's whale, according to the observations of Mr. Collett, differs from the 

 other finners in feeding entirely on minute crustaceans, never touching fish ; and, 

 in accordance with this difference in its diet, the edges of its whalebone are more 

 frayed out and curling than in the other species. On the Finmark coast these 

 whales appear sometimes singly, but more generally in schools of varying size, 

 which may occasionally include some fifty individuals. When migrating, or not 

 engaged in feeding, they swim rapidly, and do not require to breathe so frequently 

 as the other species. When they come up to blow, they make but one or two 

 respirations, while the others take five or six. When swimming under water, their 

 course can be traced by the bubbles of air continually rising to the surface ; and 

 when gorging on the swarms of crustaceans found in the northern seas these 

 whales swim quite slowly, with the muzzle and half the back above water. 

 Rudolphi's whale never appears to utter any sound ; and is timid and inoffensive 

 in disposition. The occasional accidents that happen to boats engaged in the 

 pursuit of this whale appear to be caused unintentionally during the death-throes 

 of the animals. As a rule, but a single young is born at a time, but Mr. Collett 

 records one instance of twins. The whalers of Finmark believe that this whale, 

 like the two larger species of the genus, can remain under water when resting for 

 upwards of eight or twelve hours; such periods of repose often occurring at 

 particular hours of the day. Mr. Collett states that the yield of oil varies from 

 fifteen to thirty barrels, and that the value of one of these whales ranges from 27 

 to 33, or about half that of the common fin-whale. 

 Common Fin- The common fin-whale, or rorqual (B. muculus) averages from 



Wliale - 60 to 65 feet in length, and rarely exceeds 70 feet. It is very 

 elongated in form, with moderately long jaws ; the flippers measuring one-ninth of 

 the total length. The colour of the upper-parts and the left side of the lower jaw 

 is slaty grey ; while the right side of the lower jaw and the under-parts, including 

 the inferior surface of the flukes and flippers, are white. The whalebone is slate 

 coloured at the ends, with the first two or three rows white. 



The common rorqual is found rarely in the Mediterranean, but abundantly 

 throughout the more northern seas of Europe, ranging as far as the 70th or 75th 

 parallels of latitude. It is likewise widely distributed in American waters, where 

 it is commonly known as the fin-back ; and it appears that the so-called southern 

 fin- whale of New Zealand is not specifically separable. It is not uncommon off the 

 British coasts, two dead specimens having been found floating in the Channel in 

 1885, while another was stranded at Skegness in 1887. 



The common fin-whale swims with great rapidity and strength, being second 

 in this respect only to the next species ; and is consequently taken with difficulty, 

 except when explosive harpoons are used. Its habits appear to be generally very 

 similar to those of the lesser fin-whaje ; and it is described as playing around 

 vessels under way in the same manner. These whales are frequently found alone, 

 but occasionally assemble in schools of from ten to fifteen or twenty individuals. 



