364 CETACEA. 



they content themselves with inflicting as many wounds as possible, and 

 leaving it to die. After the lapse of a few days the huge carcass is 

 generally found dead upon the strand, and becomes the property of all 

 those who have wounded it and can prove their claims by the weapons 

 which are found in its body. The person who finds the stranded carcass 

 is by law entitled to one-thiid of the value. 



The Northern Finner Whale, Physahis Gibbaldii, has been taken 

 by Gray as the representative of a separate genus which he calls Gibbal- 

 dius. It attains a length of one hundred feet, and has pectoral fins twelve 

 feet in length. Little is known about this species, as it is usually con- 

 founded with the Rorqual. 



THE SULPHUR-BOTTOM FINNER. 



The Sulphur-bottom Whale, Pliysalns sulphitrcus, is found on our 

 North-west Coast. It is, perhaps, the largest of the whales frequenting 

 the Pacific Ocean. It is found on the coast ot CaHfornia at all times of 

 the year, but appears from May to September in numerous bands which 

 approach the coast fearlessly, and swim round ships at anchor, or accom- 

 pany them on their voyage. In the year 1850 the ship "Plymouth" 

 passed through a school of these whales. One of them left its com- 

 panions and followed the ship for twentv-four days. The crew, not 

 admiring this dangerous companion, tried all means to get rid of it. As 

 whales have a great horror of bilge-water, they set their pumps to work, 

 but in vain. They pelted the whale with bottles, pieces of spars, and 

 other missiles, and fired ball after ball into it. But the Sulphur-bottom 

 paid no heed to their attentions, and kept close to the ship, occupying 

 exactly the same position with regard to the vessel, whether she was 

 sailing free before the wind, tossing about in a gale, or lying becalmed. 

 At the end of November, the " Plymouth " met the bark " Kirkwood ;" 

 as the ships approached to each other within speaking distance, the 

 whale left the " Plymouth " and took its station at the " Kirkwood," but 

 when they parted, it returned to its old ship. The sailors gradually 

 grew accustomed to the creature's presence, and called it " Blowliard," 

 affirming that it knew its name, and would come nearer when summoned 

 by this appellation. The Sulphur-bottom seemed to be anxious when 

 the " Plymouth" drew near the coast, and finally left the ship when she 

 came into soundings. 



