66 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



1664, which may refer to this species. " 1660. The next 

 September a formidable big whale came up the Frith, and 

 struck upon the shores be-east Inverness a mile. It was 

 seventy feet long-; I was present at the measuring of it. 

 The debate began, whether it was upon Culloden's march or 

 the Town's ; but the burgesses of Inverness seized the whale 

 under appreciation, John Forbes of Culloden being then at 

 the south. The English offered to buy her at a high rate, 

 and they should have got her by right, for all men con- 

 cluded the whale to be a presage of the garrison's expiration 

 and translation from Inverness, which happened shortly 

 after." 



PHYSETER MACROCEPHALUS (Sperm Whale). No record 

 of a Sperm Whale, except the Thurso one in 1863, is known 

 to me. Sometimes the newspapers report a "Sperm Whale," 

 but, when proper inquiry is made, it generally turns out some 

 other species. 



HYPEROODON ROSTRATA (Bottlenose). This is one of 

 the most abundant species, from the Moray Firth to Shet- 

 land. 



MESOPLODON BIDENS (Sowerby's Whale). This species 

 has been found four times in the Moray Firth near Nairn. 

 The first, in I 800, was the " type " of the species. I think 

 the last two specimens found deserve more than a passing- 

 reference. I sent a notice to the " Annals " of a male 

 Sowerby's Whale which was stranded near Nairn in Sep- 

 tember 1896. I now have to record the stranding of other 

 two in September 1899, both females, mother and young. 

 The young one stranded about the spot where the male 

 came to grief three years before, and the mother about a 

 mile east of that place. 



It is very desirable that descriptions should be given of 

 rare mammals, as these often show curious sexual and even 

 individual variations, for by so doing we may be able to 

 prevent the species-maker giving new names to animals 

 which are not even well-marked varieties. A marked 

 departure in the colour of the belly of a whale, or even of a 

 mouse, has been considered by some as evidence of specific 

 value, though it can be proved that such departures are, in 

 most cases, only " individual variations." Sowerby's type 



