RORQUAL, ror'qwal, a name of Scandi navian origin, signifying a whale having longi tudinal furrows on the belly. As generally em ployed it comprises the finback, sulphurbottom and humpback whales, or the subfamily Bakenopterids, exclusive of the genus Rhachta ne.ctes. The furrows extend to the throat, where they are closely laid. All these whales have small heads and small flippers. In the north Atlantic there are three species of fin backs, one species of sulphurbottom and one species of humpback. The finbacks are the common finback (Bakenofttera ohysalus), the pollack whale (B. borealis) and the little piked whale (B. acuto-rostrata). The whale which is most frequently seen on the east coast of the United States and of which stranded individ uals are found every year at different points is the common finback, B. Physalus. It is from 60 to 70 feet long when full-grown, and is readily distinguishable by its gray and white striped. whalebone, gray upper surfaces and
white belly and under surfaces of pectoral fins and flukes. The dorsal fin, which is rather more than a foot high, is situated a little in advance of the last fourth of the length of the body. Though numerous species of finbacks and litunp...ks have been described from dif ferent parts of the world, the five forms above mentioned are everywhere recognizable. If others exist they at least resemble these very closely. The sulphurbottom feeds on small crustaceans and the finbacks and humpbacks on various fishes, such as the cod, pollack, herring. capelin, etc. They all engage in seasonal migra tions. During the summer months great num bers congregate about Newfoundland, Iceland and the north of Norway. For gray whale, or hardhead, and further information relating to finbacks and humpbacks, see WHALE.