The Annals -,-- 



f E PAiNlCAL 



Scottish Natural History 



No. 5] 18 9 3 [January. 



RISSO'S GRAMPUS (GRAMPUS GRISEUS) IN 

 THE SOLWAY FIRTH. 



By Robert Service. 



On 28th of September last I read in our local newspaper, 

 the " Dumfries Courier," a short paragraph to the effect that 

 on the 24th of that month a "young bottle-nose whale " had 

 been captured near Annan. Knowing that the dimensions 

 given were very unlikely to apply to that species, I lost no 

 time in writing for further information to my obliging friend, 

 Mr. Wm. Wright, Annan, who in due course replied, giving 

 the following particulars : — The animal had been seen, when 

 the tide ebbed, floundering in a pool on the sands of the 

 Dumfriesshire Sohvay at a spot close to Battlchill, near 

 Annan, by Mr. Wm. Blake, fisherman, who with assistance, 

 and after a considerable struggle, killed it. Its dimensions 

 were, length 10 feet 3 inches ; girth at thickest part 5 feet ; 

 flippers 7 or 8 inches wide, 16 or 17 inches long; it had 

 two bumps right on the nose, one on each side with hollow 

 between ; the bumps were like one's fist and could be taken 

 hold of. The shape from the dorsal- to the tail "went away 

 to nothing." Three teeth in each side of the front of lower 

 Jaw, and no teeth whatever in upper jaw. Colour of upper 

 parts described as somewhat greenish in hue when alive and 



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