The Seals and Whales of the British Seas

Part 1

THE

SEALS AND WHALES

OF THE

BRITISH SEAS.

BY THOMAS SOUTHWELL, F.Z.S.

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS.

London: JARROLD AND SONS, 3, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS. [All Rights Reserved.] 1881.

INTRODUCTION.

SEALS AND WHALES OF THE BRITISH SEAS.

Although at no period entirely neglected, as is apparent from the frequent reference to the subject by old authors, and from the known richness in species of the British Fauna, compared with that of the Continent of Europe, the study of the Marine Mammalia of the British Seas has, of late years, received more than usual attention, and the advance made in the knowledge of these creatures, has been rapid in proportion. Nor is it surprising that, to the inhabitants of a densely-peopled country like the British Isles, the terrestrial fauna of which must, of necessity, be very restricted and familiar, the study of the mammals frequenting its seas and shores should be possessed of a peculiar charm. The uncertainty and rarity of their occurrence, their exceptional forms, the mystery which shrouds their origin, heightened by the romance which surrounds the seas and high latitudes forming the chief home of so many species, must always render them objects of the greatest interest. Not only is this the case on the coast, but even in inland districts, whither--notably to London and Birmingham--Cetaceans have been brought, both living and dead, at great expense, and from long distances, to gratify the growing interest which has manifested itself, in these remarkable animals.

Under these circumstances it is surprising that no modern book, especially devoted to this subject, exists; those who would inform themselves must search out the scattered records dispersed in the publications of numerous Scientific Societies, or procure works, which, excellent as they may be, are much more comprehensive in scope, and too expensive to be within the reach of many into whose hands it is hoped this little book may come: the author has, therefore, striven to supply what is certainly a desideratum, viz., a cheap, plain, but, he hopes, trustworthy treatise on the Marine Mammalia of the British Seas. Originally published in the form of a series of papers in the pages of Science Gossip, the following account of the “Seals and Whales found in the British Seas” has been brought down to the present time, and much new matter added, not the least important of which is that devoted to the claims of the Atlantic Right-Whale to a place in the British fauna.

Doubtless, rare specimens are often lost to science for want of identification, and all those interested in their study have experienced the frequent disappointment which attends the bare announcement of “a Whale on shore:” in many instances no attempt is made to determine the species, in others it is evidently wrongly-named, or, although perhaps a more or less elaborate description may be given, not a single feature is indicated by which it may be identified.

One special object in reproducing these pages is to assist, by means of the most accurate figures which could be obtained, and short descriptions of the more important characters to be observed in each species, in determining those specimens which, from time to time, are landed by our fishermen, or cast dead upon the shore. Elaborate or technical descriptions have been carefully avoided, but short accounts of the habits and distribution, so far as known, of each species have been given, with the hope of interesting others in the study of this, even now, too-much-neglected branch of Natural History.

To the more advanced student the numerous references may be useful for indicating the sources whence detailed information of a more technical character is to be obtained.

The usefulness of this little manual, which pretends to no originality, but in the compilation of which no labour has been spared to insure accuracy, will, it is hoped, be greatly enhanced by the Illustrations; they were either engraved from original drawings, or copied from the most trustworthy sources (indicated in the text); several of them have since been adopted by the latest publications on the subject, both in England and America. For the use of 20 of the illustrations, out of a total of 29, the author is indebted to the kindness of Mr. David Bogue, who obligingly lent the blocks originally engraved for the papers in Science Gossip.

The author has to acknowledge, with many thanks, the kind assistance afforded him by MR. J. W. CLARK, Superintendent of the Museum of the University of Cambridge, and a recognized authority on the Cetacea and Pinnipedia. He, also, has to record the services, in behalf of this little work, rendered by one, who, beloved and lamented by many friends, has passed away since it has been in the press--the late MR. EDWARD RICHARD ALSTON. The wound inflicted by the early death of that amiable and promising naturalist is too fresh to admit of further reference.

Norwich, March 1881.

INDEX.

PAGE.

Atlantic Right-Whale, 61

Balæna biscayensis, 61

” mysticetus, 49

Balænoptera boops, 70

” borealis (Note), 128

” laticeps, 77

” musculus, 70

” rostrata, 78

” sibbaldii, 75

Part 2

Beaked Whale, 101

Beluga ”, 108

Bottle-head ”, 101

Bottle-nose Dolphin, 124

Broad-fronted Beaked Whale, 101

Cachelot, 85

Cetacea, 44

Cuvier’s Whale, 102

Cystophora cristata, 24

Delphinapterus leucas, 108

Delphinus acutus, 125

” albirostris, 125

” deductor, 118

” delphis, 121

” globiceps, 118

” melas, 118

” phocœna, 120

” tursio, 124

Dolphin, Bottle-nosed, 124

” Common, 121

” Risso’s, 115

” White-beaked, 125

” White-sided, 125

Epiodon desmarestii, 102

Globicephalus melas, 118

Grampus, Common, 113

” Risso’s, 115

Grampus cuvieri, 115

Part 3

” griseus, 115

Greenland Right-Whale, 49

Halichœrus gryphus, 28

Hump-backed Whale, 69

Hyperoodon butzkopf, 101

” latifrons, 101

” rostratum, 101

Lagenorhynchus acutus, 125

” albirostris, 125

Megaptera longimana, 69

Mesoplodon sowerbiensis, 105

Monodon monoceros, 106

Mystacoceti, 49

Narwhal, 106

Odontoceti, 85

Orca gladiator, 113

Phoca baikalensis, 17

” discolor, 17

” grœnlandica, 21

” hispida, 14

” vitulina, 11

Phocœna communis, 120

Physalus antiquorum, 70

” latirostris, 75

Physeter macrocephalus, 85

Pilot Whale, 118

Pinnipedia, 2

Porpoise, 120

Part 4

Pseudorca crassidens, 114

Risso’s Grampus, 115

Rorqual, Common, 70

” Lesser, 78

” Rudolphi’s, 77

” ” (Note), 128

” Sibbald’s, 75

Rorqualus minor, 78

Seal, Common, 11

” Greenland, 21

” Grey, 28

” Hooded, or Bladder-nosed, 24

” Ringed, or Marbled, 14

Sibbaldius borealis, 75

Sowerby’s Whale, 105

Sperm Whale, 85

Trichechus rosmarus, 32

Tursio truncatus, 124

Walrus, 32

Whale, Atlantic Right, 61

” Beaked, 101

” Bottle-head, 101

” Broad-fronted, 101

” Cuvier’s, 102

” Greenland Right, 49

” Humpbacked, 69

” Pilot, 118

” Sowerby’s, 105

Part 5

” Sperm, 85

” White, 108

White-sided Dolphin, 125

White-beaked Dolphin, 125

Ziphioid Whales, 98

Ziphius cavirostris, 102

ERRATA.

Page 77, bottom line, for Physalis read Physalus. ” 126, for alberostris read albirostris.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE.

Figure 1.--HIND FLIPPERS OF RINGED SEAL 2

” 2.--SKELETON OF SEAL 12

” 3.--RINGED OR MARBLED SEAL 15

” 4.--GREENLAND SEAL 20

” 5.--HOODED SEAL 25

” 6.--GREY SEAL 29

” 7.--WALRUS 33

” 8.--Vacca Marina 37

” 9.--HEAD OF WALRUS 39

” 10.--SEA HORSE (after Cook) 41

” 11.--SECTION OF SKULL OF WHALEBONE WHALE 46

” 12.--GREENLAND RIGHT-WHALE 51

” 13.--ATLANTIC RIGHT-WHALE 60

” 14.--COMMON RORQUAL 71

” 15.--LESSER RORQUAL 80

” 16.--SPERM WHALE 84

” 17.--CHAIR IN GREAT YARMOUTH CHURCH 87

” 18.--BACK VIEW OF DITTO, DITTO 87

Part 6

” 19.--SKELETON OF SPERM WHALE 88

” 20.--SKULL OF DITTO 90

” 21.--HEAD OF SOWERBY’S WHALE 104

” 22.--BELUGA, CAUGHT BY THE TAIL 109

” 23.--GRAMPUS 112

” 24.--Pseudorca crassidens 114

” 25.--RISSO’S DOLPHIN 116

” 26.--PILOT WHALE 118

” 27.--COMMON DOLPHIN 122

” 28.--BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN 124

” 29.--WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHIN 126

* * * * *

TABLE OF BRITISH CETACEA 48

” DIFFERENCES OF BRITISH MYSTACOCETI 82

SEALS AND WHALES

OF THE

BRITISH SEAS.

The two great groups of Marine Mammals known as Pinnipedia and Cetacea, although widely separated from each other zoologically, naturally present themselves to us side by side as inhabiting the same regions; the facilities for studying the one are also equally favourable for obtaining a knowledge of the other. It is remarkable that in few groups of the animal world, until recently, has so much confusion existed as in the Seals and Whales. This has, of late years, through the labours of European and American naturalists, to some extent been remedied, although very much still remains to be done, the literature of the subject being still so scattered, that much of it is inaccessible to the ordinary student. The arrangement and nomenclature adopted in the following short account of the Seals and Whales inhabiting or occurring in the seas, or on the shores, surrounding the British Islands, is that used by Mr. Alston in the second edition of Bell’s ‘British Quadrupeds.’

PINNIPEDIA.

The Pinnipedia (fin-footed) forms a well-marked sub-order of the Carnivora, and may be divided into three distinct families--the Phocidæ, or true Seals; the Trichechidæ, represented by one species only--the Walrus; and the Otariidæ, or Eared Seals.

=A=, opened out; =B=, closed.]

Continue reading The Seals and Whales of the British Seas free in the Wunder reader →