300 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



to effect a passage through it to the open coast-water, returned to 

 the Bottle-nosed Whale fishery, which he prosecuted successfully. 

 The total catch of Right Whales by the seven vessels was only 

 nineteen, the quantity of bone being 319 cwt. ; a most un- 

 successful season, but so great is the j^resent scarcity of bone, 

 which is now selling at upwards of ^2000 per ton, that the 

 temptation to try again next season will be very great. 



The Bottle-nosed Whale fishery has been vigorously prosecuted, 

 no less than 535 of these creatures having been killed, compared 

 with 413 in the season of 1882; the 'Eclipse' headed the list 

 with 157 fish. Capt. Gray tells me he finds a great difference in 

 the behaviour of these animals since they have been hunted with 

 such vigour ; they are becoming much more suspicious and 

 difficult of approach than formerly, and whereas when he first 

 commenced to take them the whole of the school would congregate 

 around a wounded animal, rendering it easy to secure eight or 

 ten out of a herd, now on one being harpooned its companions 

 disappear at once, seeking safety in flight. I am informed that 

 two new vessels have been added to the Peterhead fleet, and that 

 several additional steamers will sail next season from Dundee; 

 in addition to which quite a fleet of Norwegians will take part 

 in the Bottle-nosed Whale fishery. It is not hazardous, there- 

 fore, to predict that the decline of this profitable industry will be 

 as rapid as its rise, and that should the present race to get rich 

 at their expense continue, the Hyperoodons will soon be as rare as 

 the Eight Whales. 



THREE UNPUBLISHED PAPERS ON ORNITHOLOGY. 

 By the late Edward Blyth. 



No. 3. — Fam. Cypselid^ (Swifts). 



A remarkable group of birds, organized, both internally and 

 externally, to produce the maximum power of flight. They have 

 been much confounded with the Hiriuidinidoc or Swallows, which 

 exhibit the true Passerine structure to its minutest detail, and 

 which owe their volar power mainly to the development of the 

 wings and tail. The Swifts, in their general conformation, most 

 nearly resemble the Trochilidce or American Humming Birds ; 



