304 WHALES AND DOLPHINS 



Atlantic it extends southward to New Jersey. Specimens 

 said to be specifically indistinguishable have been reported 

 from the Cape of Good Hope and New Zealand. 



Cuttlefishes form the food of this animal. 



It is a gregarious species which moves about in schools often 

 numbering many hundreds of individuals. 



A female specimen caught in the Forth at the end of April 

 was found to be carrying an unborn young one 3 feet long. 

 At Lofoton, in a school of about a thousand examined at the 

 beginning of September in the year 1880, the females either 

 had full-time fcetuses or were accompanied by newly-born 

 calves. These observations are in accord with the cetologist 

 Van Beneden's conclusions, from an accumulation of records 

 which he cites, that the Pilot Whales pair in warm water 

 during the northern winter and bring forth their young on 

 their return northwards in the following year. 



That migration of the herds does take place is indicated by 

 the analysis by H. C. Miiher of records of three hundred years' 

 hunting of this species in the Faroe Islands. The period 

 covered is 1 584-1 883, and 117,456 whales are involved. It is 

 shown that in January the catches are very small, and that 

 until June, when the number taken suddenly rises, the monthly 

 increase is very gradual. August is the best month, and from 

 then on to the end of the year numbers slowly diminish. 



The method of hunting the Pilot Whale is similar in Orkney, 

 Shetland and the Faroes, although at the present time, so far 

 as the two former localities are concerned, its practice has now 

 fallen into disuse. A watch is kept from the shore for the 

 appearance of the school in conveniently situated bays which 

 the animals are known to fiequent. When the signal is given 

 the hunters in the district jump into their boats and manoeuvre 

 so that the line of boats is between the whales and their way of 

 escape to the open sea The animals are driven towards the 

 beach, and when they are sufficiently close inshore those that 

 do not eventually strand are slaughtered with harpoons and 

 lances. It may be stated that the Scottish name Caa'ing 

 Whale is connected with the practice of driving or herding 

 the animals, and has nothing to do with calling or vocal 

 expression of any sort. 



In the Faroe Islands the natural tendency for the Pilot 



