64 MAMMALIA. 



fresli). The Eoman Catholic fishermen of the coast pronoimced 

 it first chop hcrf. The Maldives and Sej^cheUes are said to be the 

 head-quarters of the whalers who pursue these gigantic 

 Cetaceans." 



A species much better known to naturalists is the Great Northern 

 Rorqual [Phij.mlm anUquorum, Fig. 18, p. 60), which attains to as 

 huge a magnitude as the one already noticed. A specimen of it was 

 found floating on the sea in a decomposed state on the 20th October, 

 1831, in Plymouth Sound, which is stated to have been 102 feet 

 long, and 75 feet in circumference, but most likely (remarks Dr. 

 Gray), the abdominal cavity was distended by internal decomposi- 

 tion, which the great longitudinal plaits of the skin of the lower 

 parts would permit to a considerable extent. Two others have been 

 observed, which measured 105 feet. One of them was found dead, 

 as mentioned by Scoresbj^ in Davis's Straits ; and Captain Clarke 

 measured the skeleton of one near the Columbia River, which 

 extended to that length.* This animal is the Razor-hack of the 

 whalers ; and though occasionally observed in temperate latitudes, 

 it is much more numerous further north, occurring ra great 

 numbers in the Arctic Seas, especialljr along the edge of the ice 

 between Cherie Island and Nova Zembla, and also near the island 

 of Jan Mej'en. It is seldom seen amongst much ice, and seems to 

 be avoided by the Greenland or Right "N^Tiale ; and the whalers 

 therefore view its appearance with concern. In the Spitzbergen 

 quarter it inhabits most generally the jDarallel of from 70" to 76° ; 

 but in summer, when the sea is open, it advances to the northward 

 as high as 80* of latitude. 



The Northern Rorqual swims with a velocity at the greatest of 

 about twelve miles an hour. It is by no means a timid animal, 

 and usually does not appear to be mischievously disposed. "When 

 closely pursued by boats it manifests little fear, and does not 

 attempt to outstrip them in the race, but merely endeavours to 

 avoid them by diving and changing its direction. If harpooned, 

 or otherwise wounded, it then exerts all its energies, and escapes 

 \sdth increased velocity, so that it is much more difiicult to 

 capture than the Plight Whale, being also more dangerous to attack, 

 and much less valuable when killed, as it yields a comparatively 

 small supply of oil. 



* Travels to the Missouri, by Captains Lewis and Clark, p. 422. 



