48 E. LÖNNBERG, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EAUNA OF SOUTH GEORGTA. 



and, I admit, that it speaks strongly against the same that some Tubicinellce may be 

 found in the midst of an excrescence together with a quantity of Cyami. As, how- 

 ever, the older hypotheses concerning as well the origin as the function of the »bon- 

 net» have proved incorrect and no other or better than this one has presented itself 

 to my mind, I thought I might jnst as well express it, as it might, perhaps, lead 

 to advaneing some still better and more satisfactory theory about these problematic 

 structures. 



The first Right whale observed by Captain Larsen and his men was a young 

 animal estimated to have had an approximate length of 8 m. When observed first 

 it was seen near the shore basking among the kelp. It was not caught because it 

 kept so close to the rocky shore that it could not be pursued with the whahng 

 steamer for fear of wrecking the latter. This happened the 22d of Febr. 1905. 

 After that almost every week Black whales were observed till the 24 of July when 

 the last was seen. 



The southern Black whales do not appear in large schools, but they like never- 

 theless to keep company, 2 — -3 and even as many as 5- — -6 were sometimes seen to- 

 gether, as Sörling has reported. As a rule they were found out on the »bank» 

 among the schools of Humpbacks. 



When the southern Black whale comes to the surface for the purpose of breath- 

 ing, the surrounding parts round the blowhole are, during the expiration, prolonged 

 to a protuberance, as is beautifully shown on fig. 20 Pl. V which is a reproduction of 

 a photo taken and kindly communicated by Captain Larsen. The double, right and 

 left, spout is also shown on the same. When the Black whale is not disturbed, but 

 quietly feeding among the »åt» — that is the plankton organisms that serve it as 

 food — it »blows» several times with short intervals, as many as 8 — -12 times en 

 suite, only quietly just as sinking down below the surface between each blowing. 

 When it is calm it can be seen swimming under the surface during these short inter- 

 vals. Then it sounds cleeper and goes down showing the flukes above the water. 

 When it sounds after showing its flukes it stays below the surface from at least 20 

 to 40 — 60 minutes. 



The southern Black whale is comparatively slow in its movements and, although 

 it is not exactly a shy animal, it is very easily scared by the noise of the serew 

 and engine. Tf it has perceived anything, it sounds and disappears from shooting 

 range and it is therefore not easily approached by the whaling steamer. When shot 

 it becomes very nervous and troublesome and without wilfully attacking the whaler 

 it might become dangerous. One specimen of those shot while Sörling was at the 

 »South Georgia station smashed the bulwark of the whaling steamer. 



When lying quiet at the surface it shows the boss at the blowhole, and 

 the postenor part of the back above the surface, according to Sörling's obser- 

 vations. 



Its food consists of »kril» (Euphausiids). 



