The Annals 



of 



Scottish Natural History 



NO. 5] 1893 [JANUARY. 



RISSO'S GRAMPUS (GRAMPUS GRISEUS} IN 

 THE SOLWAY FIRTH. 



By ROBERT SERVICE. 



ON 28th of September last I read in our local newspaper, 

 the " Dumfries Courier," a short paragraph to the effect that 

 on the 24th of that month a "young bottle-nose whale " had 

 been captured near Annan. Knowing that the dimensions 

 given were very unlikely to apply to that species, I lost no 

 time in writing for further information to my obliging friend, 

 Mr. Wm. Wright, Annan, who in due course replied, giving 

 the following particulars : The animal had been seen, when 

 the tide ebbed, floundering in a pool on the sands of the 

 Dumfriesshire Solway at a spot close to Battlehill, near 

 Annan, by Mr. Wm. Blake, fisherman, who with assistance, 

 and after a considerable struggle, killed it. Its dimensions 

 were, length 10 feet 3 inches ; girth at thickest part 5 feet ; 

 flippers 7 or 8 inches wide, 1 6 or 17 inches long ; it had 

 two bumps right on the nose, one on each side with hollow 

 between ; the bumps were like one's fist and could be taken 

 hold of. The shape from the dorsal to the tail " went away 

 to nothing." Three teeth in each side of the front of lower 



o 



jaw, and no teeth whatever in upper jaw. Colour of upper 

 parts described as somewhat greenish in hue when alive and 

 5 B 



