NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 41 



bone, or "baleen," of which the loiifrest is fourteen to sixteen inclics, is of a 

 light brown color, the grain very coarse ; the hair or fringe on the bono, like- 

 wise, is much coarser and uot so even as that of the Right Whale or Hump- 

 back. 



The male may average thirty-five feet in length, but varies more in size than 

 the female, and the average quantity of oil it produces may be reckoned at 

 twenty-five barrels. 



The California Grey is only found in north latitude, and its migrations have 

 never been known to extend lower than 20° north. It fequents the coast of 

 California from November to May. During these months the " cows " enter 

 the lagoons on the lower coast to calve, having one young at a birth ;* while 

 the males remain outside, along the sea shore. Occasionally a male is seen in 

 the lagoons with the cows the last of the season, and soon after both male and 

 female, with their young, will be seen working their way northward, following 

 the shore so near that they often pass through the kelp near the beach. It is 

 seldom they are seen far from land. 



Their habits are strikingly different from those of other species of Balaena, in 

 resorting to shoal bays and lagoons to bring forth their young. In summer 

 .they congregate in the Arctic Ocean and Okhotsk Sea. It has been said that 

 this species of whale is found on the coast of China, but this report needs con- 

 firmation. In October and November they appear off the coast of Oregon and 

 Upper California, on their way back to their tropical haunts, making a quick, 

 low spout at long intervals, showing themselves but little till they reach the 

 smooth lagoons of the lower coast, where, if not disturbed, they congregate in 

 large numbers, passing into and out of the estuary, or slowly raising their 

 massive forms midway out of their element and falling over on their sides, 

 dashing the water into foam and spray about them. At times in calm weather 

 they are seen lying on the water quite motionless, keeping one position for an 

 hour or more. 



The first time we were in Scammon's Lagoons the boats were lowered several 

 times for them, we thinking that the whales when in that position were dead 

 or sleeping, but before the boat approached within darting or even shooting 

 distance they were on the move again. 



About the bar and shoais at the mouth of one of the lagoons, in 1860, 

 we saw large numbers of California Grays; it was at the low stage of the 

 tide, and the shoal places were plainly marked by the constantly foaming 

 breakers. To our surprise, we saw numbers of these " Grays " going through 

 the surf where there could barely have been depth to float them. We could 

 see in many places, by the white sand coming to the surface, that thej^must be 

 near to or touching the bottom. One in particular lay for a half hour in the 

 breakers playing, as we have often seen seals in a heavy surf, turning from 

 side to side with half extended fins, and moved apparently by the heavy ground 

 swell which was breaking, at times making a playful spring with its bending 

 flukes, throwing its body clear of the water, coming down with a heavy splash, 

 then making two or three spouts, then settling under water, and perhaps the 

 next moment his head would appear, and with the heavy swell the animal 

 would roll over in a listless manner, to all appearance enjoying the sport in- 

 tensely. We passed close to this playful fellow, and had only thirteen feet of 

 water. 



Hunt, Chase, and Capture — Dangers of Lagoon Whaling. 



As the season approached for the whales to bring forth their young, which 



* Two or three calves have been seen with one whale, but these instanoes have only oc- 

 curred in lagoons where there had been great slaughter among the cows, leaving their 

 offspring motherless, which straggle about, sometimes following other whales, or congre- 

 gating by themselves, a half a dozen together at times. We know of one instance when a 

 whale was killed close to the ship which had a calf perhaps a month old. When the mo- 

 ther was taken to the ship to be cut in, the young one followed, and remained playing 

 about for two weeks, but whether it lived to come to maturity is a matter of conjecture. 



1869.] 



