INTR OD UCTION. 



Doubtless, rare specimens are often lost to science for want of identification, and all 

 those interested in their study have experienced the frequent disappointment which attends 

 the bare announcement of "a Whale on shore :" in many instances no attempt is made to 

 determine the species, in others it is evidently wrongly-named, or, although perhaps a more 

 or less elaborate description may be given, not a single feature is indicated by which it 

 may be identified. 



One special object in reproducing these pages is to assist, by means of the most accurate 

 figures which could be obtained, and short descriptions of the more important characters 

 to be observed in each species, in determining those specimens which, from time to time, 

 are landed by our fishermen, or cast dead upon tlie shore. Elaborate or technical des- 

 criptions have been carefully avoided, but shoit accounts of the habits and distribution, so 

 far as known, of each species have been given, with the hope of interesting others in the 

 study of this, even now, too-much-neglected branch of Natural History. 



To the more advanced student the numerous references may be useful for indicating the 

 sources whence detailed information of a more technical character is to be obtained. 



The usefulness of this little manual, which pretends to no originality, but in the compi- 

 lation of which no labour has been spared to insure accuracy, will, it is hoped, be greatly 

 enhanced by the Illustrations ; they were either engraved from original drawings, or copied 

 from the most trustworthy sources (indicated in the text) ; several of them have since been 

 adopted by the latest publications on the subject, both in England and America. For the 

 use of 20 of the illustrations, out of a total of 29, the author is indebted to the kindness of 

 Mr. David Rogue, who obligingly lent the blocks originally engraved for the papers in 

 Science Gossip. 



The author has to acknowledge, with many thanks, the kind assistance afforded him by 

 Mr. J. W. Clark, Superintendent of the Museum of the University of Cambridge, and a 

 recognized authority on the Cetacea and Pinnipedia. He, also, has to record the services, 

 in behalf of this little work, rendered by one, who, beloved and lamented by many friends, 

 has passed away since it has been m the press— the late Mr. Edward Richard Alston. 

 The wound inflicted by the early death of that amiable and promising naturalist is too fresh 

 to admit of further reference. 



Norwich, March 1881. 



