66 



for this may partly be that some dates mentioned are given from memory, the capture of the mother animal having taken 

 place earlier, and the date may thus easily be inaccurate; partly, that possibly the copulating time with the Phocæna from 

 southern latitudes is not the same as with those which inhabit more northern latitudes. 



It is sufficiently well known from different animal forms that tlic size of tlie new-born animal may vary. In 

 man and in mammals in domestication, it is well known that the size of the newborn young varies very much. Grieg's 

 observations on small porpoises — one 885 millim. in length, taken on June 11th. 1887, and another 970 millim. long taken 

 on July 17th, 1888, are very instructive, and only strengthen the conclusions I have drawn. In placing such wide limits — 

 copulation from June to October, gravidity lasting 9 or 10 montlis, parturition lietween Marcli and July, and the length of 

 the newly-born young one from 700 to 860 millimetres. — Grieg is fully justified in consideration of literary and personal 

 observations. I would, however, make the limit somewhat narrower, and, for reasons already mentioned, am not inclined to 

 attach much importance to earlier literary statements, which have not special reference to the subject in hand. For the 

 present, at any rate, I shall confine myself to the observations above mentioned, as they were made with the special view 

 of obtaining accurate facts as to the size of the embryo at different tiines of the year. It is better to have few and absolutely 

 accurate observations than many of less accuracy. I would not by this have it thought that I undervalue earlier observations 

 wliich may be quite as useful for other purjjoses. New series of observations will show whether the above reasoning is correct. 



