MAMMALS OF BERMUDA. 147 



Family BALJENID^. 



Ei^B ALPENA cisARCTiCA, aiid otliers. 



Common Whale. Right Whale. Cape Whale. Ilump-hacl-. d'C. 



Tlie IJiiilit Whale is the only species whieli may be called a regular 

 migrant to tbe shores of the Bermudas, and its occurrence there opens 

 up a very interesting source of inquiry as to whether the individuals 

 annually visiting the islands really come from the north and return 

 thither, or merely pass their existence in mid- Atlantic, and resort for 

 some reason to the group with their young during the months of Feb- 

 ruary, March, April, ]\Iay, and June. 



Kow, lirst as to the identification of this species with that so often 

 mentioned by early writers. In the Philosophical Transactions (Royal 

 Society of London) for 1668 appears a communication from Richard 

 Norwood, who was the first person to survey the islands and divide 

 them into shares. It is dated — 



" Bermuda, June 18, 1667. 



"The killing of whales, it hath been formerly attempted in vain, but 

 within these two or three years, in the spring time and fair weather, 

 they take sometimes one, two, or three in a day. They are less, I hear, 

 than those in Greenland, but more quick and lively; so that if they be 

 struck in deep water they presently make into the deep with such vio- 

 lence that the boat is in danger of being haled down after them if they 

 cut not the rope in time. Therefore they usually strike them in shoal 

 water. They have very good boats for that purpose, manned with six 

 oars, such as they can row forwards or backwards as occasion requir- 

 eth. They row up gently to the whale, and so he will scarcely shun 

 them, and when the harpineer, standing ready fitted, sees his oppor- 

 tunity, he strikes his harping-iron into the whale about or before the 

 fins rather than towards the tayle. Now, the harping-irons are like 

 those which are usual in England in striking porpoises, but singular 

 good metal, that will not break, but wind, as they say, about a man's 

 hand. To the harping-iron is made fast a strong lythe rope, and into 

 the socket of that iron is put a staff, which, when the whale is struck, 

 comes out of the socket, and so when the whale is something quiet they 

 hale up to him by the rope, and, it may be, strike into him another 

 harping-iron, or lance him with lances in staves till they have killed 



