86 The Irish Nahu^alist. [April, 



Lksskr Rorquai. or Pike-Whai.e— Balaenoptcra rostrata, Mull. 



(Plate 3, fig. 2). 



The total length of this species is only from 20 to 30 feet, it being 

 much the smallest of the Rorquals. It is easily recognised, not only by 

 its sharp snout, from which the specific name rostrata is derived, but also 

 by the possession of a broad white baud which crosses the flippers. 

 With the exception of this band, the upper parts of the body are greyish 

 black, the under parts being white. The whale-bone is yellowish-white. 



To judge from the number of records, this species is probably common 

 all round the Irish coast. Thompson's records are too indefinite to be 

 of much value. The first undoubted description of this whale from the 

 Irish coast was given in an important contribution by Carte and 

 Macalister (XII., p. 201), who dissected a young female caught near 

 Drogheda. Two more are mentioned by Mr. Barrett-Hamilton as 

 having been obtained on the coasts of Kerry (IV., p. 75), and Cork 

 (V., p. 27), while the young whale alluded to Mr. Hart (XV., p. 28), 

 which was secured for the Dublin Museum, and which is still in process 

 of maceration, is probably also this species. 



II.— TOOTHED WHAIvES. 

 FAMILY PHYSETERIDiiE. 



Sperm \Vhai,e or Cachat.ot— Physctci' macrocephalus, Linn. 



(Plate 3, fig. 4). 



The Sperm-whale is the largest of the toothed whales. Its enormously 

 large and truncated head — a third the length of the body — distinguishes 

 it at once from all other species. The males of this whale are considerably 

 larger than the females, the former growing to a length of about 60 

 feet. On our coast the Cachalot can only be regarded as a very rare 

 accidental visitor. Still we possess several records of this species, 

 because it is so easily recognisable. 



One of the references dates back to the year 1695, when Dr. Molyneux 

 described three Sperm-whales as having been stranded on the west 

 coast of Ireland (XX., p. 54). Another was taken about the year 1750 at 

 Castlehaven, Co. Cork, and one on the Dublin coast in 1766. The 

 valuable spermaceti contained in the head of this last whale was 

 subsequently refined in Dublin. Mr. Rathborne, of Dublin, has used 

 two Irish Sperm-whales — one from Connemara and one from Cork — in 

 his spermaceti- candle factory within the last seventy or eighty years. 

 Mr. Barrett-Hamilton mentions the capture of a Sperm-whale near 

 luishkea Island, Co. Mayo, in 1890 (VII., p. 72). 



