1910.] AND JJIOLOGV OF TJIE LAIIOEU CETACKA. 771 



process leaves much to be desired. Tlie latter has to make the 

 best of the operations however, and it is so essential in the whaling 

 trade to dispose of the whales as rapidly as possible, while the oil 

 is fresli, that the whalers can haixlly be expected to .study the 

 needs of the anatomist. A whole animal 70 feet in length will 

 often disappear completely in the course of a morning. 



When a number of whales are brought in at the same time, as 

 is often the case, the zoologist is not greatly benefited, for they 

 are all anchoreil to buoys at some little distance fi'om the shore, 

 and brought to the "flensing slip" one by one to be stripped of 

 their whalebone and bhd)ber. The carcases are then taken back 

 to the buoy to wait until they can be further dealt with. This 

 method of procedure is rendered necessary on account of there 

 being no room for more than three or four whales on the " flensing 

 slip " at the same time. 



The whales are artificially inflated with air directly they are 

 killed, and they are then easily towed home by the whaling 

 steamer. This inflation is often a source of great inconvenience 

 to the anatomist, since poi'tions of the viscei'a ai'e torn away and 

 shot out of the body -cavity when the body- wall is pierced by the 

 flensing knife. 



Enough has been said to show that to the scientific man a 

 whaling station does not pretend to offer the advantages of 

 unlimited time and comfort which are to be found in a laboratory. 

 But at a station all the largest whales, with the exception of 

 Bulceiia mysticetus and Rhachianectes glaiicus, can usually be 

 seen within the space of three months. Very frequently several 

 individuals of different species can be examined and compared as 

 regards their external and internal characters. The material is 

 often sufliciently fresh for histological study, which, on account of 

 the gigantic size of the animals, should prove of considerable 

 intei'est. ]\Ioreover, exceptional opportunities are offered to the 

 naturalist of going out to sea in tlie whaling steamers. Many 

 intei'esting observations upon the habits of the Cetacea could 

 possibly be made by this means alone. 



With I'cgard to the smaller Cetaceans, since they arc seldom 

 killed by man at present, material is difficult to obtain ; but the 

 study of these animals is not at the moment so jim^ssing as that of 

 the rapidly decreasing lai'ger forms. 



Before passing to consider the observations resulting from 

 my stay of seven weeks at Innishkea I wish to express my 

 thanks to the anonymous donors who made the visit possible, and 

 to many friends who have helped me to carry out the work. 



My special thanks are due to Dr. S. F. Harnter, F.R.S., 

 who has kindhr read the proof-sheets, for entrusting me with 

 the research and for his valuable help and advice. I would 

 also express my hearty thanks to Mr. R. M. Barrington, F.L.S., 

 for his kindness in many ways and for giving me the benefit 

 of his local knowledge. I am nnder obligations to the Rev. 

 W. 8. Green, C.B., Chief Inspector of Fisheries for Ireland, 



