blFFEUENT TRIBES OF MYSTICETE. 211 



The parallel of 77" to 77j% is considered a 

 *' dead latitude" by the fishers, but occasionally it 

 affords whales also. 



From an attentive observation of facts, it would 

 appear, that different tribes of the mysticetus inha- 

 bit different regions, and pursue different routes on 

 their removal from the places where first seen. 

 These tribes seem to be distinguished by a differ- 

 ence of age or manners, and in some instances, ap- 

 parently by a difference of species or sub-species. 

 The whales seen in the spring in the latitude of 

 80°, which are usually full grown animals, disap- 

 pear generally by the end of April ; and the place 

 of their retreat is unknown. Those inhabiting the 

 regions of 78^, are of a mixed size. Such as resort 

 to fields in May and beginning of June, are gener- 

 ally young animals ; and those seen in the latitude 

 of 76°, are almost always of the very largest kind. 

 Instances are remembered by some aged captains, 

 wherein a number have been taken in the south- 

 ward fishing stations, which were astonishingly pro- 

 ductive of oil. It is probable, that the difference 

 in the appearance of the heads, or the difference of 

 proportion existing between the heads and bodies 

 of some mysticete, are distinguishable of a diffe- 

 rence in the species, or sub-species. Those inha- 

 biting southern latitudes, have commonly long heads 

 and bodies, compared Avith their circumference, mo- 

 derately thick blubber and long whalebone ; those of 



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