WHALEBONE WHALES. 



21 



When these animals come up to breathe, they inhale the air so rapidly as to produce 

 a sharp sound which may be heard at a considerable distance, and is said to be 

 perfectly distinguishable from that produced by any other species. When about 

 to descend, Captain Scammon says that this finner " assumes a variety of positions, 

 sometimes rolling over nearly on its side, at other times rounding, or perhaps 

 heaving, its flukes out, and assuming nearly a perpendicular attitude. Frequently 

 it remains on the surface, making a regular course and several uniform ' blows.' " 



enormous. 



Sibbald's Fin 

 Whale. 



THE COMMON FIN-WHALE, FKOM A STRANDED SPECIMEN ( T ^ nat. size). 



The food of the species is mainly fish ; and the quantity of cod it consumes is 



The gigantic Sibbald's fin-whale (B. sibbaldi)ihQ 'sulphur- 

 bottom ' of the American whalers enjoys the distinction of being the 

 largest of living animals. It is a somewhat stouter-built species than the last, and 

 commonly attains a length of from 70 to 80 feet, and occasionally reaches 85 feet, 

 or perhaps more. The general colour is dark bluish grey, with some white spots 

 on the chest, the lower edges and under surface of the flippers being white. In 

 American specimens at least, there is, however, a more or less marked yellowish 

 tinge on the under surface of the body, which has given origin to the popular 

 name. The flippers are longer than in either of the other species, measuring one- 

 seventh of the entire length ; and the jaws are also of more than usual proportionate 

 size. The back-fin is small, and situated comparatively near the tail. The whale- 



