414 Dr. Bellingham on the Bottle-nose Whale, 



males do not spawn till they retnrn from their first visit to the 

 salt water, though some inequality in the development of the ova 

 may frequently be perceived towards the end of April and the 

 beginning of May in specimens measuring from six to seven 

 inches in length which have assumed the migratory dress. Young 

 salmon trouts weighing from half a pound to a pound are ob- 

 served to ascend the Conway in considerable numbers every year 

 in August, and adults of large dimensions are, at all times, very 

 much scarcer than those of a medium size. From these facts I am 

 led to infer that the salmon trout, in its ceconomy and rate of 

 growth, bears a close resemblance to the salmon. 

 Oakland, May 8th, 1843. 



LVII. — Short description of a Bottle-nose Whale stranded upon 

 the coast of the co. Louth in the autumn of 1840. Communicated 

 to the Nat. Hist. Society of Dublin, by 0. B. Bellingham, 

 M.D.* 



A specimen of Hyperoodon Butzhopf became entangled on the 

 evening of Oct. 6, 1840, upon a bed of rocks, which run some 

 distance into the sea, and are partially uncovered at low water, off 

 Salterstown near Dunany Point, co. Louth, and next morning 

 was found nearly dead by some fishermen, by whom it was towed 

 to Johnstown Beach. 



It was a male, and measured 23 feet 7 inches in length ; the 

 greatest circumference behind the pectoral fins 13 feet 8 inches ; 

 snout measured 2 feet 7 inches, and the tail 6 feet across. 



The skin was smooth, polished, and of an olive-black colour. 



Eyes small, dark, and somewhat larger than those of the ox ; 

 immediately behind each eye was an opening about 5 inches in 

 length and 2 broad. 



There were 2 small teeth in the extremity of the lower jaw, 

 buried at least 2 inches in the gum. 



No remains of food were found on examination in the stomach 

 or intestines. 



The blubber yielded upwards of 120 gallons of oil. 



Observations. — The Hyperoodon Butkzopf of Lacepede, Hy- 

 peroodon bidens of Fleming, Ceto-diodon Hunteri of Jacob, Bottle- 

 head of Dale, and Bottle-nose Whale with two teeth of Hunter, is 

 so little known to British naturalists that the most trifling parti- 

 culars respecting it possess interest. This is the third specimen of 

 this species which within the last four years has been stranded 

 upon the same part of the coast of the co. Louth ; two of these 



* A drawing of the animal, made by Lieut. Raye, R.N., was exhibited to 

 the meeting. 



