144 WHALES AND PORPOISES 
especially when it curves over and falls into the sea. It is 
this “‘spouting’”’ which reveals the whale to its enemy in the 
*““erow’s-nest”’ of the whaling vessel, and causes him to shout 
joyously to those on deck, ‘There she blows!” 
In addition to the foregoing, the most important species 
of baleen whales are these: 
Tue Ricut WuHate (Balaena glacialis), of the cool waters 
around the north pole and the Atlantic Ocean, north and 
south, attains 70 feet, but usually runs under 50 feet. 
Tue Pactric Right WHALE (Balaena sieboldit) inhabits 
the North Pacific. 
Ture Humpsack WHALE (Megaptera nodosa), of the At- 
lantic, off the United States coast, is the species most fre- 
quently seen from the decks of passenger steamers and 
occasionally stranded on our coast. Its usual length is from 
45 to 60 feet. 
THe Frnspack WHALE (Balaenoptera physalus), of the 
North Atlantic coast, attains 60 feet, but yields little oil, 
and is difficult to kill. 
Tue CairorniA Gray WHALE (Rachianectes glaucus), 
from the arctic seas to Lower California, attains 45 feet. It 
is fond of shallow water and is savage and dangerous. 
THE SPERM WHALE FAMILY 
Physeteridae 
It is impossible to give in a few words a clear and ade- 
quate conception of the various localities inhabited by the 
great SPERM WHALE.' It may be said, however, that it is 
1 Phys'e-ter mac-ro-ceph’a-lus. 
