10 



THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



later months of the fishing season. It will be seen that 

 to the northward of Shetland the catches were abundant 

 during all the months. In the southern part of the field, 

 on the other hand, to the west of St Kilda, no Finners were 

 caught during April and May, few in June, but more and 

 more from July onwards. In the intermediate region, 

 between the Faroes and the Hebrides, large catches were 



Fig. II. The Scottish Catch of Finner-whales during July (1908-1914). 



made in the beginning of the season, fair catches towards 

 the end, but few in June and very few in July. The 

 seasonal distribution of the Sei-whale, as we shall presently 

 see, is very different. 



The Finner is generally considered to be a fish-eating 

 whale, following the shoals of herring and, in Arctic seas 

 of the "Lodde" or Capelin {Mailotus villosus). But it is 

 well known to feed also on " kril," and Mr R. C. Haldane 

 has argued with much force that the latter is really its 

 chief and favourite food " that he only takes to herrings 



