32 E. LÖNNBERG, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FAUNA OF SOUTH GEORGIA. 



Reduced to percentages of the total length the following figures are obtained: 



Tlie length of the pectoral fin in % of tot. 1 • 12,7 



The height of the dorsal fin in % °f tot. ' 2,5 



The distance from tip of snout to hindmargin of dorsal fin in % °f tot. 1 83, i 



The breadth of the flukes from tip to tip in % of tot. 1 22,4 



These percentages allow a direct comparison with the corresponding ones in 

 the tables of relative measurements, which have been compiled by True (20) with 

 regard to North Atlantic Finners caught as well at the European as at the North 

 x4merican coasts. Snch a comparison shows then that three of these measurements 

 fall within the limits of variation of the North Atlantic Finbacks, but the fourth 

 differs considerably, viz. the one expressing the distance between the snout and the 

 posterior margin of dorsal fin. In European Finbacks this percentage varies accord- 

 ing to True (20) between 73, s — 77, 6 , in American specimens between 75, 5 and 79, 8 

 and in the southern race 83, i. The percentage for the southern Finback is thus 

 3,5 7o higher than the known maximum for the American and 5,-, % higher than 

 the known maximum for European specimens. It is not opportune to draw too far 

 reaching conclusions from a single fact like this, but it may indicate that the dorsal 

 fin of the southern Finback has a more posterior situation. 



This characteristic together with the differences in colour, or rather distribu- 

 tion of colour, which exist, and with regard to the baleen may sufficiently separate 

 the Finbacks of the Northern and Southern Atlantic, at least as geographical 

 subspecies. Whether this is corroborated or not by skeletal characteristics, I hope 

 to get the opportunity to show in a continuation of this paper. 



The Finback was seen all the year round off South Georgia but did not occur 

 in great numbers. Usually 2 — 3 specimens were seen together. 



Its regular haunts were the same as those of the Blue whale a few, 5 — 6 eng- 

 lish miles off the shore between the land and the area visited by the schools of 

 Humpbacks. The Finback is very quick in its movements and runs with great 

 rapidity. During the winter it swims more at, or near the surface, so that some- 

 times the dorsal fin is visible for a long time above the water. It appears to be 

 very restless at that time of the year and moves with so great speed that the whal- 

 ing steamer which made 9 knöts an hour could not overtake it. 



The food consist of »kril», that is Euphausiids. 



The spout of the Finner is higher, narrower and denser than that of the Blue 

 whale, according to Sörllng. 



When it sounds it does not show the flukes and it stays as a rule below the 

 surface 10 — 15 minutes. 



The southern Finback is as a rule neither infested by Cyamus nor by Coronula, 

 only one single specimen had some barnacles on one of the pectoral fins. 



In consequence of its rapid movements it is not easy to get a good shot at the 

 Southern Finback, and, if the harpoon has not hit well, so that the whale is badly 

 wounded, the game is very unpleasant for the whaling steamer and its crew, and 

 leads to no goocl result. A couple of examples of such kind may be told. One 



