~ 
asa) 
XI.—The Anatomy of the Northern Beluga (Beluga catodon, Gray; Delphin- 
apterus leucas, Pallas) compared with that of other Whales. By Morrison 
Watson, M.D., F.R.S.E., and Atrrep H. Younc, M.B., &c., of the 
Owens College, Manchester, (Plates VII. and VIII) 
(Read 21st April 1879.) 
During the spring of 1878, owing to the enterprise of Mr Farint, English 
naturalists had the rare opportunity of inspecting three living specimens of the 
northern Beluga or white whale. Descriptive accounts of their capture off the 
coast of Labrador, and likewise of the methods which, successfully carried out, 
ensured their safe transmission to this country, appeared at the time in various 
periodicals.* On the arrival of the whales in England, one was forwarded to the 
Pomona Gardens, Manchester, where it was placed in a large tank for purposes 
of exhibition. Though apparently adapting itself to its new home, the whale 
never appeared to recover from the combined effects of its capture and 
compulsory voyage; but growing rapidly worse, its condition became so 
precarious that it was deemed advisable to send it to Blackpool, in the hope 
that the advantages of a marine aquarium might prove beneficial. Notwith- 
standing every precaution, however, the whale did not reach its destination, 
but succumbed on the way. 
On hearing of its death, Mr Farint, with great courtesy, placed the carcase 
at our disposal. Unfortunately, a misunderstanding arose as to its locality, so 
that an unavoidable delay necessarily ensued, during which the railway 
authorities, naturally anxious to get rid of the rapidly putrefying mass, sent the 
whale to a boiling-down yard, whence it was not rescued until it had to some 
extent been mutilated. 
The body, therefore, when it came into our possession, was neither so 
perfect nor so fresh as was necessary for an investigation of its entire 
anatomy, and on this account a myological description of the specimen could 
not be attempted; consequently our observations, which, so far, have been 
confined to the soft parts, relate chiefly to the visceral anatomy. 
* An interesting account both of this and of a prior attempt to introduce whales into England 
was issued in pamphlet form by Mr H. Laz, F.L.S., &e. 
VOL. XXIX. PART I. D1 
