354 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 
whale in the least resembling the Greenland or Bowhead 
Whale (Balena mysticetus), although they were in the ice for 
a period extending over two months. Are we to conclude 
that Ross was mistaken, or has made a misleading state- 
ment? I think not. All we can say is that we failed to 
confirm Ross’s statement, and that, on further search, the 
whale greatly resembling the Greenland whale may yet be 
found. We shall see whether the plucky little Norwegian 
craft that is pushing to 78° S., in the region of Victoria 
Land, has better luck this season. 
toss says that the whales he saw were “lying” on the 
water, and this is one great characteristic of alana 
mysticetus. Contrary to the habits of the finner whales in 
the north, on more than one occasion we saw the southern 
finners also lying on the water, and sometimes the dorsal fin 
seemed to have been almost entirely torn away, perhaps by 
the ice. Could Ross have been thus deceived? Surely not, 
when he had had thirteen years’ experience in Arctic Seas! 
Besides, he also adds “their enormous breadth quite astonished 
us.” This is a second great characteristic. The Bowhead 
Whale has a great, broad, flat back, with a head one-third 
the total length of its body. These finners had a bony 
vertebral ridge, and very much smaller heads. Nor can we 
believe that Ross wished to mislead us, for in every way 
we found him a most faithful guide. 
On the 16th of December, when we first made ice, we 
passed through thousands of finner whales. Many came 
quite close to the ship, and, as far as the eye could reach in 
all directions, one could see the curved backs and hear the 
resounding blasts. Huphasia swarmed in the water. Many 
blue petrels and myriads of Cape pigeons were flying around 
and settling in the water. 
On the 26th of January, while out in a boat, I saw what 
at first appeared to be a rolling piece of ice, but what was 
in reality a white finner whale. - 
The whale which I have said strongly resembled the 
Pacific Hunchback Whale (Megaptera versabilis), I have seen 
going “ tail up,” a characteristic of the Bowhead Whale. It 
has a broader and flatter back than the finner whale men- 
tioned, but can scarcely-be said to resemble Balena mysticetus, 
