I900.J SCHARFF. — Irish Cetacea. 87 



B0TT1.E-NOSKD WHAI.E— Hypcroodon rostratus, Gray. 



(Plates, fig. 5.) 



The teeth in this species are reduced to a single pair in the lower jaw 

 and are concealed by the gums. The colour is olive-black above, a little 

 lighter beneath. The skull has a peculiar high crest in the middle, and 

 is subject to great variations as regards sex and age. The Bottle-nosed 

 Whale reaches a length of from 20-30 feet. 



This whale was first described as Irish in 1825 by Prof Jacob, who 

 dissected a specimen stranded at Killiney, Co. Dublin, and presented 

 the skeleton to the Museum of the College of Surgeons in Dublin 

 (XX. p. 47). According to Thompson, several other specimens were seen 

 by Prof Jacob on the Dublin coast. Another — a male— was cast up at 

 Salterton, Co. Ivouth, and described by Dr. Bellingham (X. p. 414), and 

 Thompson mentions one obtained in Belfast Bay in the autumn of 1845, 

 the skeleton of which is in the Belfast Museum. Two more are 

 referred to by Mr. Patterson (^XIX., p. 194) from the same locality, and 

 he states incidentally that what is known among fishermen as the 

 " herring-hog " is this species. Mr. Barrett-Hamilton gives an account 

 of two from the coast of Wicklow (VI., p. 72). These, which I saw 

 myself, were a male and female. Then there is still another record from 

 Co. Dublin. In September, 1890, a young female was captured at 

 Skerries and conveyed to the Dublin Museum, where its skull is now 

 preserved. A photograph of this specimen, which measured 17 feet, 

 was taken. Mr. Henry B. Rathborne, of Dublin, who used some of 

 these specimens in his factory for the purpose of extracting the oil, 

 informs me that the oil of the Bottle-nosed Whale is good for lubricating, 

 and that this species also contains the valuable spermaceti — a semi-solid 

 oily substance already referred to. 



Bkaked Whai,f,— IVIcsopIodon bidens, Sow. 



(Plate 4, fig. 6). 



This is one of our rarest species of whales. It is small— only from 

 15 to 20 feet long— and according to Mr. Lydekker (XVI., p. 280), the 

 general colour is white above and black beneath, with vermicular 

 white streaks on the flanks. The head is produced into a long beak, and 

 the lower jaws possess a pair of prominent teeth. 



Only one of the numerous species of beaked whales visits our shores 

 from the south, and it is surprising that the only two Irish records come 

 to us from the same small bay, viz., that of Brandon, on the Kerry coast. 

 The first Irish specimen was discovered there by Dr. Busteed, of Castle- 

 gregory, in 1S64, the second was stranded on the 3Tst May, 1870. Both 

 these males were described by the late William Andrews (I. and II.) 



