OF A GIGANTIC BLUE AVHALE FROM PANAMA. 1089 



Soutliern race of Blue Wliales by their supei'ior size. The 

 evidence now submitted shows that Blue Wliales of a size much 

 larger than that generally accepted may occur to the north of the 

 equator, and thus throws doubt on the assumption that the 

 Northei'n Blue Whale is smaller than those that frequent 

 the Southern Ocean. It may be suggested that owing to the 

 great intensity of whaling which has occurred in Northern waters, 

 few ]>lue Whales of the largest size have been permitted to 

 survive, but that in the South, where whaling has been practised 

 only since 1904/5, a greater number of these individuals have 

 remained. It may be anticipated that the enormous destruction 

 which is at present taking place in the South Avill result in a 

 diminution of the number of these very large specimens. 



