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Show 540 MR. R. BROWN ON THE CETACEANS [NOV. 12, ft. ill. Length of sulcus of mammae 0 3 Breadth of sulcus, on each side of it 0 2 From tuberosity of humerus to point of pectoral fin 8 0 Greatest breadth of fin 3 11 Depth of lip (interior of lower) 4 7 From the inner canthus of eye to extreme angle of fold of mouth 1 5 From inner to outer canthus 0 6 Length of block of laminae of baleen, measuring round the curve of the gum, after being removed from the head .. 16 6 Length of longest lamina on each side 10 6 Distance between the lamina at the gum 0 g Breadth of pulp-cavity of largest lamina 1 0 Average length of pulp when extracted from some of the largest laminae 0 5 Number of laminae on either side, about 360. The length along the curve of the back and other measurements desirable to have been taken were not able to be made out, from the position of the Whale, as it was suspended in the water alongside. (y) Habits fyc.-The Right Whale is a gregarious animal, being generally found in small " schools" of three and four, but when travelling from one part of the ocean to another they will sometimes collect in large parties. I am told by my friend Dr. James M'Bain, R.N., that about thirty years ago he witnessed an extraordinary migration of this nature a little to the south of Pond's Bay. The Whales to the number of several hundreds passed north in a continuous flock, and a few days afterwards were succeeded by an even still more numerous herd of Walruses. The numbers of the latter were beyond all computation ; hour after hour did they travel to the northward, never pausing to feed, but all seemingly intent on reaching the opening of Lancaster Sound. A few days subsequently not one was to be seen, as previously there had been no signs of their presence. This was undoubtedly a very rare scene; and the question which must suggest itself is, where could such a number of these huge animals have come from 1 The Whale is capable of travelling at a very fast rate when irritated by wounds or impelled by fear of its enemies. I was told by the late Capt. Graville, of the screw whaler ' Diana,' a proverbially experienced and truthful man, that a Whale was struck near the entrance of Scoresby's Sound, on the east coast of Greenland, by the father of the late Dr. Scoresby (with whom Mr. Graville was a fellow apprentice) ; but being lost, it was killed next day near the entrance of Omenak fjord, on the west coast, with the harpoons freshly imbedded in its body. This was adduced in proof of the existence of an inlet in former times (as, indeed, represented on the old maps) across Greenland between these two points. Unless the whole story was founded on a misconception (an event less likely from the searching investigation which took place at the time), we can scarcely believe that the Whale |