334 Hyjiienopteroiis and Dipterous Galls at Hiiddeysjield. 



there until the tide fell, could be easily secured. This course 

 was decided upon. To undress was only the work of a moment. 

 The best swimmers of the party, three in number, entered the 

 water armed only with a short rope. After a long swim they 

 reached the dark object which was then still upon the surface^ 

 and the most venturesome of the party managed to slip a noose 

 over the flukes of the tail. The tightening of this noose was 

 the signal for a move on the part of the whale, fortunately in 

 the right direction, and not sufficiently violent to necessitate 

 leaving go. A few more attempts to rid itself of the incumbrance 

 (each becoming more violent and displaying temper) carried the 

 party into water where the bottom could be reached. A pull 

 could now be got on the line, and so the whale kept practically 

 under control until the spit of sand beneath shallowed and the 

 animal grounded. Finding itself a prisoner, the whale lashed 

 the water with great violence, and considerable care had to be 

 exercised at this period. Its huge mouth was opened once, 

 displaying a fringe of white baleen and a palate as white 

 as snow. 



Several attempts were then made to mount its back, its 

 movemxents all the time resembling those of a bucking horse. 

 Then a return to the tent was made for a heavy camping axe, 

 and this proved an effective weapon. At the fourth blow the 

 brain was reached. A violent leap, a few savage strokes with 

 the tail, and the huge mass lay quiescent, the sea as suddenly 

 reddening for many yards with blood and oil. 



Although the members of the party had worked hard for 

 three and a half hours in a chilly sea, they did not leave the 

 carcase until the jaw-bones had been secured as trophies, and 

 this brought an exciting and unique experience to a close. 



GALLS. 



Hymenopterous and Dipterous Galls at Huddersfield. — 



A search for galls early in October resulted in the following 

 Hymenopterous species being recorded from Ellen Springs, near 

 Shepley, viz., Nematus gallicola, Andricus feciindatrix, Spathe- 

 gaster baccarum, Neurotei'us lenticularis Oliv., N. fumipennis 

 Htg. , N. munisjnatis Mayr. , Dryoplianta sciitellaris Adler 

 folii Mayr.), Biorhiza reiium Girand., and Cynips kollari\ 

 also the Dipterous gall Hcrinomyia peligera from the Beech 

 trees in Mollicar Wood, Farnley, and Mag Wood, Honley. — 

 W. E. L. W\\TTAM, Newsome. 



Naiuralist, 



