CHAPTER III. 

 THE HUMPBACK WHALE. 



Meoaptera vebsabilis, Cope. (Plate vii, fig. 1. 



The Humpback is one of the species of rorquals that roam through every 

 ocean, generally preferring to feed and perform its uncouth gambols near extensive 

 coasts, or about the shores of islands, in all latitudes between the ec|uator and the 

 frozen oceans, both north and south. It is irregular in its movements, seldom going 

 a straight course for any considerable distance ; at one time moving about in large 

 numbers, scattered over the sea as far as the eye can discern from the mast-head; 

 at other times singly, seeming as much at home as if it were surrounded by hun- 

 dreds of its kind; performing at will the varied actions of "breaching," "rolling," 

 "fuming," "lobtailing," or "scooping;" or, on a calm, sunny da}^, perhaps lying 

 motionless on the molten -looking surface, as though life were extinct. 



Its shape, compared with the symmetrical forms of the Finback, California 

 Gray, and Sulphurbottom, is decidedly ugly, as it has a short, thick body, and 

 frequently a diminutive "small," with inordinately large pectorals and flukes. A 

 protuberance, of variable shape and size in different individuals, placed on the 

 back, about one -fourth the length from the caudal fin, is called the hump. An- 

 other cartilaginous boss projects from a centre fold immediately beneath the 

 anterior point of the under jaw, which, with the flukes, pectorals, and throat of 

 the creature, are oftentimes hung with pendent parasites * ( Otion StlmjKoni ) , and on 



*W6 print here Ball's description of the unusually long and stout. First pair of hands 

 Cyamus suffums ; also his remarks on the Olion quadrant - shaped ; second pair slightly punctate, 

 Slimpsoni (Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., Dec. 18th, arcuate, cmarginate on the inferior edge, with a 



io'7o\ Til i J.- n o n ^ 1 , pointed tubercle on each side of the emargina- 



18/^). Illustrations, figures 3 and 5, plate x. ,. m ■ i • ■ , p ,, , . , , , , 



■^ tion. ihird joint of the posterior legs keeled 



Cyamus suffusus, n. sp. Body flattened, elon- above, with a prong below. Pleon extremely 



gate; segments, sub-equal, outer edges widely minute. Segments smooth. iS^o ventral spines 



separated. Branchiaj single, cylindrical slender, on posterior segments. Color, yellowish white. 



With a very short papilliform appendage before suffused with rose -purple, strongest upon the 



and behind each branchia. Superior antennte anteunaj and branchife. Length, 0.41 inches; 



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