'12 CALIFORNIA MAMMADS. 



about the ship, but by the time the boats were in the water noth- 

 ing more would be seen of them-. 



"An instance occurred in Monterey Bay, in 1865, of five 

 being captured under the following circumstances ; a 'pod' of 

 whales was seen in the offing, by the whalemen, from their 

 shore station, who immediately embarked in their boats and gave 

 chase. On coming up to them they were found to be Finbacks. 

 One was harpooned, and, though it received a mortal wound, 

 they all ran together as before. O'ne of the gunners, being an 

 expert, managed to shoot the whole five, and they were ultimately 

 secured. 



"Their food is of the same nature as that of the other ror- 

 quals, and the quantity of codfish that has been found in them 

 is truly enormous." (Scammon). 



Balsenoptera acuto-rostrata davidsoni Scammon. 



(For Prof. George Davidson.) 



SHARP-HEADED FINNER WHALE. 



Small; head pointed; pectoral fins small, pointed; baleen 

 v.'hite; color blackish above, white below. 



North Pacific Ocean. 



"The name Sharp-headed Finner is applied to this, the smal- 

 ler species of Balxnoptera known on the coast. The onily one 

 we have examined was found dead on the northern shore of Ad- 

 miralty Inlet, Washington Territory, by some Italian fishermen, 

 in October, 1870, transported by them to the opposite shore and 

 towed into Port Townsend Bay, where it was flensed on the 

 beach. This opportunity of seeing the animal out of water was 

 very interesting to- us, for there was a mystery about its his- 

 tory that we had been unable to solve in twelve years observa- 

 tion, during which time we had traced it fromi the coast of Mexico 

 to Behring Sea. In the strait of San Juan de Fuca oppor- 

 tunities were afforded for observing its havits more closely than 

 elsewhere. 



