266 Mr A. H. Guerin on the Rock-Nose Whale. 



to hook on the empty bucket which is brought to his hand^ 

 and then set on the engine by the handle S, and in return the 



engine will do its work. 



Daniel Erskinb. 

 \Qth 3Iarch 1845. 



The Committee appointed to examine Mr Erskine's appara- 

 tus, report favourably of its efficiency. 



On the Rock-Nose of the Whaler, a variety of the Balcena 

 Mysticetus. By Alexander H. Guerin of Geneva, Sur- 

 geon of the Ship Superieur. Communicated by the Author.* 



It seems somewhat remarkable that an animal, apparently 

 so very different, in many points, from the common whale, 

 as to have deserved from the whaler a distinct name, should 

 have escaped the notice of the many intelligent and active 

 naturalists who have visited the Arctic .Regions. We do not 

 find it mentioned anywhere ; and although Scoresby, the 

 highest authority on the subject, tells us that the Mysticetus 

 is met with in the bays and inlets of Davis' Straits, and that 

 there are some differences observed in different animals 

 which might be considered as constituting them varieties, he 

 gives no notice of any difference in their habits (Arc. Reg. v. i., 

 p. 469). It does not appear that any other writer had even 

 a suspicion of the Rock-nose, as it is called, being a variety. 



The true Mysticetus is often found in the Straits, though 

 not generally near the coast, but at a distance from the land 

 ice, and among the heavy floating ice, known as the middle 

 ice. It is not till towards the latter part of the fishing sea- 

 son that this wliale is seen along the shore, which it then 

 approaches on its way to the south ; though some years it 

 goes south along the edge of the middle ice, without coming 

 near the land. The Rock-nose, on the contrary, never leaves 

 the coast, and though often, when crossing a bay, it goes 

 from point to point or cape to cape, it as often takes a more 

 circuitous route, and follows the shore, the whole way round 



* Mr Guerin visited Greenland in the year 1844r. 



