MAMMALS. 



33 



coasts of Forfar or Kincardine (v. Annals Scot. Nat. Hist., 1896, p. 1, aud. 

 Simpson), Likewise two of the Beaked Whale {Hyperubdon rostratus) have 

 been got far up the Firth of Forth at Bo'ness, 12th October 1895 ; and at 

 Grangemoutli, March 1894 (Simpson, loc. cit., p. 2) ; but not from the Tay so 

 far as I can learn. 



Globicephalus melas (Trail). Pilot Whale. 



Many reports of large "schools" or "droves" of small Whales occur 

 throughout our earlier literature, but such are really of so common 

 occurrence that it seems hardly necessary to quote them all. I give 

 an early one, however, as an instance, which, read in connection 

 with the footnote appended, may at least save future references to 

 that publication — the Scots Magazine'^ (1817, vol. i., October, p. 282). 

 It is there stated : "An immense shoal of the species called 'finners' 

 (sic) was on Monday the 6th inst. observed in the river Tay ; and 

 coming in contact with the east projection wall of the new harbour, 

 Dundee, from twenty to thirty of them were pursued by people in 

 boats and killed. These animals were of different sizes — the largest 

 not being less than twenty-two feet long." There seems no reasonable 

 doubt as to their belonging to this well-known species on our coast. 



In 1813 Don spoke of a drove of small Whales which appeared to 

 be of this species — Delphinus melas or Caaing Whale — which were 

 stranded up the Tay. 



A specimen of either this species or one of the other smaller Whales, 

 which bear in common the popular name of " Bottlenose," is said to 

 have endeavoured, along with six others, to ascend the lade which 

 goes into Old Harbour at Dundee, but was caught by a carpenter. 

 This record, of course, is of no practical value. 



Phocaena communis, F. Cm. Porpoise. 



As we have seen, these animals were formerly abundant in the Tay 

 estuary (see under Common Seal, ante). And they are still far 

 from uncommon, though not perhaps so abundant as in the days of 

 Fleming of Flisk's accounts. 



The old Statistical Account tells us that Porpoises " went up the 



^ An examination of a MS. index which I had prepared for me of this magazine, of 

 ninety-five volumes, 1739 to 1816, yields very few definite records, the above being about 

 the only one of much interest for Tay. Most of the other records have been utilised 

 by later writers, such as Neill and Dr. Walker, or rejected by them. 



C 



