144 



labourers in U»e sajne field, thinly scattered through the 

 land. These were the times when a Lady of rank and 

 fortune was subjected to an accusation of insanity, for 

 which the principal proof advanced was, that she had made 

 a collection of Butterflies. 



But a wiser and more kindly spirit has prevailed ; and 

 those who neither know nor care to know the works of 

 skill and beauty which their Creator did not disdain to make, 

 are yet at least found to respect the study; and the number 

 of those who observe and labour is greatly increased. It is 

 from the latter circumstance that so many additions are con- 

 tinually making to the catalogue of known, and especially of 

 our native animals. Gentlemen are found who will show so 

 much respect to the Naturalist or a Public Institution, as to 

 preserve for them such rare specimens as may fall in their 

 way; and we are consequently less accustomed to hear of 

 the occurrence of rare or unknown Birds and Fishes, that 

 have been wondered at, and thrown aside. 



THE WHALE TRIBE. CETACEANS. 



BLACK OR LEADING WHALE. Delphinus melas. 



Fleming's British Animals, p. 34. Phocasna melas, Bell's 

 British Quadrupeds, p. 483. Delphinus deductor, Scores- 

 by's History of the Arctic Regions. 



A specimen of this Whale was taken on the 29th of 

 March, 1842, on Looe Island; and another in the following 

 year, on the mainland nearly opposite the same place. Of 

 the former I had an opportunity of making a sketch, and 

 minute examination : which were published in the Annals 

 of Natural History, vol. 9, p. 371, pi. 6. It was there re- 

 marked that there could be no question of its being the 

 species referred to in the British works named above ; and 

 consequently that it was the Delphinus of Trail, D. globiceps 

 of Cuvier, and Globicephalus deductor of Jardine ; but 

 whilst the descriptions given by these naturalists are suffi- 

 ciently minute and accurate to decide the species, they in 

 common with the accompanying ligures have the misfortune 

 to fail in some important particulars, which may lead to 

 error if it shall be found that a nearly allied species exists. 

 The figure in Mr. Bell's work is confessedly taken from 

 Cuvier; and though I have had no opportunity of consulting 

 the " Ann, du Museum/' in which the paper of the great 

 French Naturalist is contained, or the work on Cetaceans 

 by his brother, yet I think it fair to conclude that it is cor- 

 rectly copied. The singularity of position, however, given 

 to the tail, as thrown up over the back, and the attenuated 



