^ Dr. J. E. Gray on the Oeographical 



XII. — On the Geographical Distribution^ Migration^ and Oc- 

 casional Habitats of Whales and Dolphins (Cete). Bj Dr. 

 J. B.Gray, F.R.S. &c. 



Dampiee long ago observed that seals did not occur within 

 the tropics ; and Capt. Maur j, in his Whale-Charts, shows that 

 the Sperm-Whale inhabits a belt of sea in or on each side of 

 the tropics in the Atlantic and another in the Pacific Ocean, 

 which was avoided by the Right Whales as if it were a belt 

 of fire. Both these observations are correct in the main — 

 though a seal has been found in the West Indies, and some 

 Humpbacked Whales inhabit near Bermuda, and they and the 

 Finner off the coast of Brazil. The Sperm-Whale wanders 

 away from its usual habitat, to its own destruction, on both 

 sides of the tropical belt, and is carried by currents like the 

 gulf-stream as fiir north as Shetland and Norway, and very 

 likely as far south in the Antarctic Ocean. 



This observation about the tropics is important, as showing 

 that the whales of the northern seas must be of different species 

 from those that inhabit the southern oceans ; and the examination 

 of the animals, and especially of their skeletons, has shown the 

 truth of this fact, which is universal as far as I have been able 

 to examine and compare the bones of the Whalebone-Whales, 

 Dolphins, and Ziphioid Whales of the northern and southern 

 hemispheres, and seems also to show that each species has 

 defined limits. 



Most whalers, in their writings, state that the whales visit 

 their usual fishing-gi'ounds at stated periods, and inhabit certain 

 bays during their breeding-season, showing that they make 

 migrations, each species within its own district. 



Whales and dolphins always inhabit sheltered bays during 

 the breeding-season ; and the Whalebone- Whales generally 

 live in shallow water, not very far from the shore or over 

 sunken banks. 



Unfortiuuitely our knowledge of these animals is very incom- 

 plete, as, the observation of them being attended with so many 

 difficulties, we have very imperfect accounts of the his- 

 tory and habits of the species which inhabit the North and 

 South Pacific, the South Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean. 

 Indeed it is only within the last few years that the species of 

 these seas have begun to be studied and determined. Before 

 that period they were confounded with the Avhales of the North 

 Atlantic, and included under general names (as Right Whales, 

 Finners, Humpbacks, Scrag-Whales, and Sulphur-bottoms) 

 which are now found to represent so many families or genera. 



The study of the whales and dolphins of the North Atlantic 



