NOTES OX THE WHALES OF NORFOLK. 
301 
and it is not unlikely, as in the case of certain animals much 
subjected to persecution, that survivors seek safety in more 
inaccessible haunts. The still smaller species, e.g., Porpoises 
and Dolphins, were much more in evidence a few decades 
since, when, in the more leisurely days of sailing drifters, 
their enmeshed carcases were frequently extricated from the 
herring-nets and were brought ashore for what trifling profit 
might be obtained for them from manure merchants or 
speculative peripatetic showmen. It goes without saying 
that obscure species in those days of less scientific discern- 
ment in all likelihood remained unidentified. It is also 
unfortunate, to-day, that those who pursue the herrings are 
quite unable to differentiate or give even a rudimentary 
suggestion as to the species, classing the larger ones promis- 
cuously as “ blow-fishes,” and the smaller ones “ scoulters.” 
I cannot sufficiently emphasise the desirability of persons — 
naturalists in particular — who may chance to see stranded 
Whales, of taking accurate measurements from various 
standpoints, noting the absence or presence of either teeth , 
or baleen , — if the latter, the length and colour of it; or if the 
former, the number and placement thereof ; the peculiarities 
of fins, either dorsal, pectoral, or caudal, with any noticeable 
markings thereon ; and also giving attention to the shape of 
the head and jaws. I was enabled to arrive at the species of 
a Whale, stranded near Hunstanton in the winter of 1910-11, 
from the examination of a series of photographs taken of it : 
but for these, its identity would have remained in obscurity. 
There are two short lists of Norfolk Whales to be found 
in the early Transactions, extremely abbreviated in matter, 
but carefully assorted, and safe in detail : our thanks are 
due to the late Mr. Thomas Southwell for the patient care 
he exercised in piecing these together, and for recording for 
future use the identity of many of the Whales that have 
been found on the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts. While 
VOL IX. 
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