WHALES AND THEIR CLASSIFICATION 37 



June, the majority arriving in mid-July. The 

 females and young are seen moving south off Angola 

 as early as the end of August, and the majority 

 have left the African coast by October. A similar 

 migration of Humpbacks takes place between 

 New Zealand and the adjacent waters of the 

 Antarctic. 



Here again the northward migration is for 

 breeding purposes. 



In the genus Balaenoptera (Finner Whales) are 

 found the largest living creatures. 



In the North Atlantic waters four species are 

 distinguished (see above, p. 18). 



The Blue Whale (Balcenoptera sibbaldi) is the 

 largest of all living animals. It lives mainly on 

 small pelagic Crustacea (Boreophausid), and is a 

 true plankton whale. It can devour one thousand 

 litres of Crustacea at a meal. Many thousands of 

 this whale have been taken off the Norwegian coasts 

 since 1865. The Blue Whale is of migratory 

 habits. It appears in the north in spring, in many 

 years appearing in the Varanger Fiord on 8th May. 



It also appears off Iceland in spring, and off 

 Newfoundland in February. Where it goes in 

 winter is not known. The Blue Whale is also found 

 on the Japan grounds. 



The Sei Whale (Bal&noptera borealis) is also a 

 true plankton whale, and is found from Biarritz to 

 the North Cape. The majority of the whales 

 captured off the Faroes belong to this species. The 

 common Finner (Balceno'ptera musculns or physalus) 



