96 SEALS AND WHALES OF THE BRLTLSH SEAS. 



Captain David Gray, of Peterhead, stands prominent amongst those who have 

 urged upon the governments of this and other countries concerned, such 

 regulations as shall insure greater humanity in its prosecution, and prevent 

 the wasteful destruction which, if continued, must speedily ruin a valuable 

 source of commercial enterprise. 



Although so widely spread over the waters of the globe, possessing, I 

 believe, a range greater than any other known mammal, it is only open 

 and deep waters which can be said to be the home of the Sperm Whale ; 

 when found in shallow seas, its generally emaciated condition indicates 

 the absence of its proper nourishment ; and the readiness with which whole 

 herds precipitate themselves stupidly upon the sands, shows how little they 

 are acquainted with such objects. Mr. Andrew Murray makes some obser- 

 vations upon this subject, which are so interesting and so suggestive that I 

 cannot resist making a long quotation. 



Speaking of those specimens which have now and then been cast ashore 

 in the North Atlantic or in the English seas, he says : " They seem to be 

 unprepared for, or not adapted for, shallow seas. Accustomed (perhaps not 

 individually, but by hereditary practice or instinct) to swim along the coral 

 islands of the Pacific within a stone's throw from the shore, they cannot 

 understand, their instinct is not prepared to meet, shallow coasts and pro- 

 jecting headlands. If they were habitual residents in our seas, they must 

 either be speedily extirpated, learn more caution, or be developed into a new 

 species." .... Mr. Murray further says : " I observe that almost every place 

 that has been above mentioned as a favourite resort of the Sperm Whales, 

 although not out of soundings, has claims to be considered the site of sub- 

 merged land. The islands in the Polynesia, which are its special feeding- 

 ground, are the beacons left by the submerged Pacific continent. In pure 

 deep seas animal life is usually scarce, and the absence of breeding-ground is 

 probably the chief cause of it ; but this only applies to a certain kind of 



