66 NATURAL HISTORY OF ARCTIC AMERICA. 



2. Physalis antiquorum, Gray. 



Razor-back of whalers. 



I cannot positively assert that the razor-back frequents the Cumber- 

 laud waters to any great extent ; in fact, I somewhat doubt if it does, 

 one reason being possibly the scarcity of fish. I have seen it north 

 of Hudson's Straits and about Cape Mercy, as well as on the Greenland 

 coast in Disko Bay. 



3. Megaptera longimana Gray. 



Hump-back of whalers. 



I could not ascertain that this whale is common in Cumberland at any 

 season. It frequents the southern waters, but is little troubled by the 

 whalers. The Eskimo do not seem to have a very clear idea of it. 



4. Orca gladiator, (Bonn.) Snnd. 



"Killer" of whalers. 



The killer is a very common whale in the Cumberland waters. They 

 arrive with the white whales, which they follow up the fjords. Many 

 thrilling stories are told by the Eskimo as well as whalemen of desperate 

 fights between this animal and other whales. The Eskimo are rather 

 afraid of it, especially the solitary kyacker. I have known the white 

 whales to come in close proximity to the ship and lie along her sides, 

 when they were pursued by these voracious sea-wolves. 



5. Phocaena communis, Brooks. 



The porpoise is by no means rare, especially in the southern waters 

 during spring and autumn. I neither saw nor heard of them in the 

 vicinity of Annanactook. . 



6. Beluga catodon, (Linne") Gray. 



White fish, or White whale, of whalers. "Killcluak," Cumberland Eskimo. 



The white whales begin to work up the sound as soon as the ice begins 

 to loosen. They become very abundant, especially in the Great Kingwah. 

 Fjord. In July many hundreds repair to the sand-beaches of this fjord, 

 and some whalers have attempted to catch them in nets, but with indif- 

 ferent success. They are sometimes driven up into shallow water at 

 flood tide, and by the receding of the water many are left high and dry. 

 It is a question of interest what they go into this fjord after. It is not 

 to have their young, as they are already with the mothers ; nor does it 

 seem to be after food, as little or nothing is found in their stomachs at 

 this time. One thing 1 noticed, when they go up the fjord they have a 

 ragged appearance and dirty color, and, according to some whalemen, 



