CHAPTER XII 



STUDIES OF WHALES AND WHALE FISHERIES 



AMONG the most interesting of Flower's writings are 

 a long series of original papers, essays, and notes on 

 the numerous Cetacea of the world, both living and 

 extinct. His study of the largest but least-known 

 animals in the world began very early, and he never 

 missed an opportunity, whether at home or abroad, 

 of seeing their bodies, skeletons, or, if possible, the 

 living animal. Lady Flower says that he was 

 always so delighted when he heard of a fresh 

 specimen, that on his coming into the room one day 

 looking particularly pleased she said, " You must 

 have heard of another whale ! " He had. 



While he was at the Museum of the Royal College 

 of Surgeons he worked for the medical profession and 

 for the general public. But he would have been more 

 than human had he not had private leanings in a 

 particular zoological direction. His old friend, Mr. 

 J. W. Clark, Registrary of the University of Cam- 

 bridge, says, "What first induced him to take up 

 the study of the Cetacea need not be investigated at 

 this distance of time. Possibly he adopted the pursuit 



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