480 
swimming in close proximity, but apparently never mixing. The 
females and young males are generally together, with often an old 
male as a leader ; but, as a rule, the latter keep apart. In this 
respect, as in many others, their habits greatly resemble the 
Sperm Whale of the South Pacific ; and, like the latter, on one 
of their number being harpooned, the remainder refuse to desert it 
whilst it is alive, and frequently fall victims to their solicitude ; 
and this is sometimes not confined to the herd of which the 
wounded Whale is a member, for Captain Gray says, “ They Avill 
come from every point of the compass towards the struck one in 
the most mysterious manner.” They are very difficult to kill, and 
dangerous to approach without great caution when wounded ; and 
Captain Gray has known them to run out seven hundred fathoms 
of line, and to remain under water for two hours. 
The outlines of the male at various stages of growth will convey 
some idea of the form of the adult. It is an even more singular- 
looking boast than the Sperm Whale, the forehead being almost 
(|uadrangxdar in shape and abruptly truncated ; from the head to 
the back fin, which is situated about two-thirds of the distance 
from the head, the body decreases very little in diameter, but the 
remaining third rapidly diminishes in size till the tail is reached. 
The flukes, instead of having a medial notch, arc entire along the 
margin, and nearly straight. The female, as is proper, has much 
more graceful outlines. The front of the head in the male extends 
beyond the junction of the upper surface of the beak, so as to 
produce a sort of hollow or notch, like Avhat is known as a 
“ beetling ” brow ; the flippers are small, and placed just behind 
the eye. The young animals are black, but with age the liue 
becomes lighter, till, in very old individuals, they are almost 
yellow ; the beak and front of the head being quite white. The 
belly is always grayish- white. They are much infested Avith parasites; 
and the piece of skin, of Avhich I c.xhibit a photograph, Avill bo 
seen to be covered Avith a curious-looking creature, apparently all 
legs. Professor PloAver, to Avhom Captain Gray sent the ])iecc of 
skin, informs mo that the parasites are Cyamus iliompsoni — a 
sessile-eyed crustacean belonging to the order Amphipoda. The 
pursuit of these creatures is (piito a ncAv feature in the Whale 
fishery, and it Avas not fill the year 1881 that they Avere taken in 
any number, the total catch of that year being one hundred 
