98 PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Sept., 1885. 



SEPTEMBER 10th, 1885. 



Tlie President in the Chair. 



Booli's Received. 



Boston Society of Natural History : Proceedings, Vol. XXIII, 

 Jan.-March, 1884. 



Boyal Society, London : Proceedings, Nos. 232-237 



The following paper was read: 



THE BLACK WHALE CAPTURED IN CHARLESTOl^T HARBOR 

 January, 1880. 



BY G. E. MANIGAULT, M. D. 



A FEW words of explanation are necessary as a preface to tlie following pa- 

 per on tlie Black Whale of tlie middle North Atlantic. The wi'iter gave his 

 notes on the subject to his friend Dr. J. B. Holder of New York City, in the 

 fall of 1882, and a full account of the whale and of its capture was published 

 the foUomng spring in one of the bulletins of the American Museum of Natu- 

 ral History. The Proceedings of the Elliott Society of Science and Art, which 

 is the regular scientific journal of Charleston, were not tlien being published, 

 and this was the reason for the account having been given to Dr. Holder. 

 Since then however the Elliott Society has resumed its publications, and as the 

 whale was captured here, it seems j^roper that all the details concerning it 

 should find a permanent place among its proceedings. 



The Atlantic Right Whale, oe Black Whale. 

 Balmna cisarctica, Cope. 

 Balmna hiscayensis, Escheicht. 



Earlj^ in the month of January, 1880, a moderate sized Whale was found to 

 have entered the harbor of Charleston, S. C. It moved from place to place in 

 the harbor without ascending either of the rivers emptying into it. It evident- 

 ly was aware in what direction the sea was, but was unable to find its way out 

 through the narrow opening between Fort Sumter and Sullivan's Island. 



On the morning of the fifth or sixth day an attempt was made to harpoon it 

 by a boat's crew from a tug employed in the government works upon the jetties, 

 but the party not being Avell equipped, and consequently not able to accomp- 

 lish its capture, decided to come to the city for assistance. The rumor of the 

 intended expedition having spread, at half past one in the afternoon, four steam 



