Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/25

 

BRITISH CETACEA.

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I. MYSTACOCETI, Whalebone Whales.

FAMILY.	GENUS.	SPECIES.	ENGLISH NAME.
Balænidæ	Balæna	mysticetus, Linn.	Greenland Right Whale
Balænidæ„	Balæna„	biscayensis, Eschr.	Atlantic Eight Whale
Balænopteridæ	Megaptera	boops, Fab.	Hump-backed Whale
Balænopteridæ„	Balænoptera	musculus, Linn.	Common Rorqual
Balænopteridæ„	Balænoptera„	Sibbaldii, Gray	Sibbald's Rorqual
Balænopteridæ„	Balænoptera„	laticeps, Gray	Rudolphi's Rorqual
Balænopteridæ„	Balænoptera„	rostrata, Fab.	Lesser Rorqual
II. ODONTOCETI, Toothed Whales.
Physeteridæ	Physeter	macrocephalus, Linn	Sperm Whale, or Cachelot
Physeteridæ„	Hyperoodon	rostratus, Chemn.	Beaked Whale, or Bottle-head
Physeteridæ„	Hyperoodon„	latifrons, Gray	Broad-fronted Beaked Whale
Physeteridæ„	Ziphius	cavirostris, Cuv.	Cuvier's Whale
Physeteridæ„	Mesoplodon	bidens, Sowerb.	Sowerby's Whale
Delphinidæ	Monodon	monoceros, Linn.	Narwhal
Delphinidæ„	Delphinapterus	leucas, Pallas	White Whale, or Beluga
Delphinidæ„	Orca	gladiator, Lacep.	Grampus, or Killer
Delphinidæ„	Grampus	griseus, Cuv.	Risso's Grampus
Delphinidæ„	Globiocephalus	melas, Trail.	Pilot Whale
Delphinidæ„	Phocæna	communis, Cuv.	Porpoise
Delphinidæ„	Delphinus	delphis, Linn.	Common Dolphin
Delphinidæ„	Delphinus„	tursio, Fab.	Bottle-nosed Dolphin
Delphinidæ„	Delphinus„	acutus, Gray	White-sided Dolphin
Delphinidæ„	Delphinus„	albirostris, Gray	White-beaked Dolphin

 

Family Balænidæ.

Genus Balæna, Linnaeus.

The members of this genus, which includes the Greenland and Atlantic Right Whales, are characterized by the absence of any dorsal fin, and by having the skin of the under parts perfectly smooth, instead of being pleated or disposed in folds, as in the Fin Whales, or Rorquals. The rostrum of the skull is compressed and rounded, and the rami of the lower jaw strongly arched outwards. The baleen, or whalebone, is long; the flippers short.