ZOOLOGY. 17 



productive in tliis valuable mammal; and at the present 

 day the Americans, if not the 'Mudians' themselves, reap 

 no small benefit from the fishery. 



Whale beef is eagerly sought after by the coloured popu- 

 lation of the Bermudas, and the cutting up of a carcase, 

 after the operation of fiinching, is a scene that few would 

 desire to witness &, second time. 



In towing a dead whale into port, the carcase is not 

 unfrequently followed by its young calf, which never fails 

 to fall a sacrifice to epicurean taste ; the beef, or rather 

 veal of the young animal, being considered good eating. 



A gun, of peculiar build, is sometimes used in the 

 destruction of these animals. It is a short weapon, with a 

 thick heavy barrel, and is fired from the shoulder, charged 

 with a hollow and pointed metal tube, which explodes 

 inside the whale, causing its instantaneous death. Instances 

 have been known of the tube passing completely through 

 the unhappy creature. 



The Teue or Geebnland Whale {Balcena mysticetus) is 

 common on the east and south shores of Bermuda, where 

 it is taken with boats, from March to July. 



The Speemacbti Whale (Physeter macroeefhalus) seldom 

 frequents the waters near the shore. One of these whales 

 was captured off St. David's Head, on the 28th of July, 

 1851 ; a rare occurrence in the Bermudas, though the 

 American whale vessels annually kill some of these valu- 

 able creatures within sight of the Islands. 



In a communication to the Eoyal Society of London, 

 written by a Mr. Eichard Norwood, from Bermuda, and 

 bearing date June 18th, 1667, we have the foUowing con- 

 cerning the whale tribe. — " The killing of whales, it hath 



c 



