ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 123 
though not so common as the mackerel shark. He also ob- 
served that he placed no confidence whatever in the stories 
current of attacks on the whales by the thrasher, believing them 
to be quite harmless and unable to hurt a dolphin. The story 
very likely arose from some peculiar movements made by the 
hump-backed whale. Swordfish, he believed, might attack a 
whale and kill him, from what he had seen of the force of their 
thrusts into the bottom of vessels, though he has no evidence 
that they ever do attack them. He was not aware, either, that 
the thrasher ever uses his tail for offensive purposes.* 
Captain Scammon, in his “ Marine Mammals,” gives the fol- 
lowing confirmation of Captain Atwood’s views, speaking of the 
habits of the hump-back whale of the Pacific : 
“In their wanderings they are addicted more than any other 
roqual to ‘breaching,’ ‘ bolting,’ and ‘finning.” In the mating 
season they are noted for their amorous antics. At such times 
their caressings are of the most amusing and novel character, 
and these performances have doubtless given rise to the fabulous 
tales of the swordfish and thrasher attacking whales. When ly- 
ing by the side of each other the AZegafieras frequently adminis- 
ter alternate blows with their long fins, which lovepats may, on 
a still day, be heard at a distance of miles. They also rub each 
other with these same huge and flexible arms, rolling occasion- 
ally from side to side, and indulging in other gambols which can 
easier be imagined than described.” 
ENEMIES. 
Such a large animal as the swordfish can have but few antag- 
killer engaged in the contest, which lasted for an hour or more. They made alternate 
assaults upon the old whale and her offspring, finally killing the latter, which sunk to the 
bottom, where the water was five fathoms deep. During the struggle the mother became 
nearly exhausted, having received several deep wounds about the throat and lips. As soon as 
their prize had settled to the bottom the three orcas descended, bringing up large pieces of 
flesh in their mouths, which they devoured after coming to the surface. While gorging 
themselves in this wise, the old whale made her escape, leaving a track of gory water behind. 
Instances have been known on the northwestern coast where a band of orcas laid siege to 
whales that had been killed by whalemen, and which were being towed to the ship, in so 
determined a manner that, although they were frequently lanced, cut with boat spades, they 
took the dead animals away trom their human captors, and hauled them under water out of 
sight.’’— (C. M. Scammon, Marine Mammals, p. 89.) 
* Prec. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. x., 1864-’66, p. 82. 
