21 



33. Orca gladiator (Lacepede). 



Killer, or Grampus. 



Shet., Pict- Whale, Fleckit- Whale (lit., spotted- whale), Lupster, 

 (leapster 1) 



Mr. G. Gatherer informed Prof. Turner that small herds of this 

 species are sometimes observed about Shetland, and that individuals 

 are occasionally seen in the schools of Pilot-Whales. Eighteen were 

 driven ashore in Bressay Sound in February 1871, and the skull 

 of one was identified by Prof. Turner, and preserved in the Ana- 

 tomical Museum of the University of Edinburgh (Tr. R. S. Edin., 

 xxvi., pp. 469-470). Baikie and Heddle speak of the "Grampus" 

 as being abundant about the Orkneys during the herring fishing 

 [Hist. Nat. Ore, p. 21), and Fleming says that it frequents the 

 Firth of Tay in pursuit of salmon (Brit. An., p. 34); but it must be 

 remembered that fishermen and sailors apply the names "Grampus" 

 and "Bottle-nose" indiscriminately to all the smaller Cetaceans. 

 A Killer, 21 feet long, was captured at Granton, in the Firth of 

 Forth, in March 1876, and the skeleton was obtained for the Edin- 

 burgh Museum of Science and Art. 



34. Globicephalus melas (Trail). 



Pilot- Whale. 



Shell, Caa'ing Whale (lit. driving- whale) ; Ore, Bottle-nose. 



Gael, Muc-mhara (lit, sea-sow.) (The latter names common to 

 most smaller Cetaceans). 



Herds or " schools " of this interesting species appear about the 

 Shetlands almost every year, and great numbers are often driven 

 ashore by the islanders. In 1834 a shoal of 780 was thus captured 

 at Sumburgh (Bell's Br. Quad., 1st ed., p. 485); in September 

 1845 no less than 1,540 are said to have been taken in Quendall 

 Bay (Zoologist, 1846, p. 1207); and, in 1852 about 1,100 were seen 

 near Scalloway, but escaped (Martin's Life of Aytoun). In 

 Orkney they are not so often seen, and are said to be rarer of late years 

 (torn. cit.). Baikie and Heddle say that they appear there in herds of 

 from 50 to upwards of 500 (Hist. Nat. Ore, p. 21). Among the 

 Hebrides the occurrence of the Pilot- Whale is only occasional, 

 but several large shoals have been recorded. In 1805 a herd of 

 about 500 appeared, and more than 300 were taken, and in 1832 



