THE JlUJVir-BACKED WHALE 



tlic force of these blows wliicli tlie wluiles aimed 

 at one anotlier, tliey plunged, partly submergetl, 

 leapt from the water, or twisted and turned. I'he 

 surrounding water was beaten into white foam. 

 Eventually one gave up the fight and made ofl with 

 a succession of dives, closely pursued by the other. 



The dead bodies of these ETump-backed Whales 

 are sometimes washed up in Algoa Bay and its 

 neighbourhood. During tlie past eleven years I 

 have recorded five. 



On July 15, 191 H, one of these whales got stranded 

 on the rocks just outside Alg(ja Bay, midway betwx'en 

 JIumewood and Cape Receife liglithousc. The 

 incomijig tide brought it over the rocks on to 

 the sandy beach. It measured 29 feet and was 

 black above and white below, the pectoral iins 

 being mottled black and white. The blubber on 

 the back and sides was 6 inches in thickness. A 

 considerable number of ship barnacles (Coiicho- 

 dcrma auriia) and coronetted barnacles (Corondla 

 diadc'ina) were deeply embedded iji its skin, mostly 

 on the head, lips and sides. These must have 

 caused their host a considerable amount of annoy- 

 ance. Arounci the bases of the barnacles, and in 

 the various folds and scratches on the skin, thousands 

 of small crab-like crustaceans (Cyamus) clung. 



The Malays assembled in hundreds to secure the 

 blubber ajul llesh. The former was reduced to oil, 

 and the lean meal was greedily eaten. It was 

 bright red and looked like the best sirloin. I'he 



211 



