MAMMALIA 47 



When first discovered, its dark-coloured head, alternately bobbing 

 above and ducking under the surface of the water, was taken for 

 a duck. But a nearer approach soon made known the prize 

 which the marksman had to secure. A discharge of shot 

 wounded the animal severely, and repeated blows on the 

 muzzle and head rendered it a helpless captive. This monster 

 of the deep was conveyed to Kendal on the following Saturday, 

 and was purchased for the Museum of the Literary and Scien- 

 tific Institution. We had an opportunity of examining the 

 specimen soon after its arrival. Its length was six feet from 

 the tip of the nose to the points of its hind toes ; circumference 

 behind the fore feet forty-three inches ; colour of the head dark 

 brown, rather dark on the back, the rest of the body grey, 

 blotched with brown spots.' After pointing out that he recog- 

 nised the species by the arrangement of the grinders and the 

 comparative length of the first and second fore toes, Dr. Gough 

 expressed his opinion that the animal was ' a young male, pro- 

 bably in the imperfect clothing of the third or fourth year. An 

 examination of the contents of its stomach proved that this 

 wanderer had fared badly in the bay ; for we found nothing but 

 a moderately-sized pulpy mass, mixed with the bones of small 

 fish.' 1 



The accuracy of Dr. Gough's judgment, in considering this 

 Seal to represent Phoca grcenlandica, was subsequently confirmed 

 by Professor Turner. 2 



This specimen is still preserved in the Kendal Museum. 



Order GET A CEA . Fam. PHYSETEPIJDjE. 



SPERM WHALE. 



Physeter macrocephalus, L. 



A Whale of this species was washed ashore on our coast near 

 Flimby, on the 21st of April 1840. The length was 58 feet, 

 breadth across the tail 14 feet, height 8 feet, and girth 26 feet. 8 



1 Westmorland Gazette, Feb. 1, 1868. 



2 Journal of Anatomy and Physiology, vol. ix. pp. 163-165. 



3 Carlisle Patriot, April 24, 1840. 



