86 
ST. HELENA. 
out fiorn the Island, but the spirit of enterprise which originated 
the expeditions succumbed to the misfortunes which befel each 
attempt. The following are the species generally taken by whaling 
ships for the oil they afford : — 
Bakena, Linn. 
B. mysticetus, Linn.— The Common or Humpback Whale. Oc- 
casionally, though rarely, one of these huge creatures is cast ashore 
dead on the windward side of the Island with several harpoons in its 
body, showing plainly how it met its fate. An enormous skeleton 
of one long remained on the eastern coast, a single one of whose 
vertebrae may now be seen placed in flower gardens to serve for 
a seat. 
Physeter, Linn. 
P. macrocephalus, Linn.— The Spermaceti Whale. 
Delpliinus, Linn. 
D. sp. ? — One kind only of Dolphin has been observed, but the 
male differs somewhat from the female in having a broader head. 
Captain Snow, of the American whaler Cape Horn Pigeon, says that 
these creatures do exhibit prismatic colours immediately they are 
taken on board after capture. They sometimes venture into very 
shallow water. Some small boys, when bathing, encountered one 
within a few yards of the landing steps, and, laying hold of its tail, 
towed it ashore, in spite of its efforts to tow them out to sea. Being 
thus successful, they carried their prize round the town in triumph, 
and eventually sold him to me for half-a-crown. His ultimate 
destination was the British Museum. 
Phocsena, Linn. 
P. sp. ? — Two kinds of Porpoise may be seen, tumbling head 
over heels and indulging in their absurd antics. They yield about 
one gallon of oil each, but are taken by whalers more for the sake of 
food. They are distinguished as the “ Bight Whale Porpoise” and 
the “ Sperm Whale Porpoise.” The latter has a fin on the back ; 
the former has none. 
OltnER Sirenia. 
Manatus, Linn. 
M. sp. ?— The manatee, or sea cow, as it was called, which once 
frequented the Island, was probably M senegalensis, Desm., which is 
