THE WHALEBONE WHALES. 663 



The Sperm Whale {Physeter onacrocephcdus) and the Southern 

 Right Whale {Balcena austrcdis) are occasional visitors in some of 

 the localities ; the latter species having been observed nearly 

 every year trekking in schools along South Georgia and towards 

 the Patagonian coast. At South Shetland, Bottlenose Whales 

 {HyjJeroodon rostratus) have also been observed in small schools, 

 but have not been the objects of pursuit. The appearance of 

 this species near the coast in Bransfield Strait is interesting, 

 but as none were caught no observations could be made upon 

 what constitutes their food in this locality. 



Humpbacks constitute the great bulk of the Whales caught in 

 most of the above-mentioned localities. The cow of this species 

 is supposed to go pregnant from ten to eleven months, and, 

 judging from their numbers there, must be the most prolific of 

 Whales. In February 1910 I observed at South Shetland two 

 Humpback foetuses about 2^ feet long which, if we accept the 

 supposition of the late Prof. G. Guldberg as to the growth of 

 Humpback fcetuses, should be about 2^ months old (impregnation, 

 therefore, about the first of November). At South Georgia, 

 I am informed, even at the commencement of the season. Hump- 

 backs with calves from about 12 feet long are met with, and 

 foetuses are also found here in their first months of development. 

 According to these observations, the indications are that the 

 Humpback Whales in these southern latitudes may be supposed 

 to give birth to their young at some time in September or 

 October, as against April and the neighbouring weeks in our 

 northern latitudes. 



I may add that from the circumstance that in some of these 

 southern localities the Whales are only flensed and the carcases 

 left to be driven by wind and tide, it is unfortunately only by 

 the merest chance that observations upon the period of gestation 

 of the various species can be made. As, however, a more appro- 

 priate disposition of the huge masses of meat and bones may 

 be looked for in the future, opportunities should also present 

 themselves for acquiring enough material for examination in 

 this respect. 



An interesting phenomenon is observed from South Georgia 

 relating to the Humpback Whales. At certain times all the 

 Humpbacks that are brought in have the belly nearly white ; this 

 variety may then disappear and those caught for some time may 

 have the belly marbled ; schools with their bellies entirely dark 

 may then put in an appearance, succeeded by the first variety, and 

 so on. At South Shetland I also observed these several varieties 

 of the Humpback, although they did not there appear in distinct 

 schools, but mingled. The bulls were here in a decided majority, 

 and the individuals observed in February and March were mostly 



young. 



A locality which is attracting serious attention at present is 

 the western coast of South Africa. During the months May to 

 October especially, the Humpback Whales have been observed in 



