584 MR. E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON A NEW CETACEAN. [Apr. If), 



£ 



only show above water at short intervals for one or two seconds at a 

 time and do not check their headlong career when they come to the 

 surface to breathe. 



Some of the crew of my vessel who were looking at this Whale told 

 me they had seen the same animal before ; and although there is not 

 much reliance to be placed generally on what the natives say when 

 they see you are interested in the subject, inasmuch as they usually 

 endeavour to tell you exactly what they think will be most agreeable, it 

 may be worth while to note the few particulars I gathered from them. 



They called it the " Palmyra fish," but did not seem to know why 

 that name had been given. I may mention that most of the crew I 

 had in this vessel were Malabar men and natives of a coast where the 

 tall palmyra is almost the only tree to be seen ; and it may be that 

 the high erect fin of this species of Whale had before now recalled 

 the appearance of this tree and suggested the name of " Palmyra 

 fish," by which the animal appeared to be known. They said it was 

 most frequently seen to the west of Cape Comorin, and that from its 

 habit of remaining for a time at the surface it sometimes came in the 

 way of vessels working along that coast. They also said these Whales 

 were very pugnacious, fighting furiously at times among themselves, 

 and "running against each other like sheep." They were conse- 

 quently avoided as much as possible by the native craft. 



The colour of those parts of this Whale which were visible above 

 water (namely, the top of the head, back, dorsal fin, and tail) was 

 greyish black ; but I was unable to ascertain either the colour or 

 shape of the underparts. What I saw of the animal gave me the 

 idea of its being of comparatively short and thick proportions ; but 



