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99

98

APPENDICES.

were entirely without milk. The only case in point from the north is a female with much milk which contained a 13 in. fœtus and which was taken on the Finmark coast in July, 1886 (Cocks).

Looking at all these facts together I am inclined to think that, firstly, no female normally experiences estrus during the essential part of the suckling period; secondly, that on the approach of the time for the weaning of the calf oestrus may happen and an ovum be shed; and thirdly, that if impregnation takes place There is, so far as I know, no evidence at this time the calf is quickly weaned.

at all of pregnancy during the early stages of suckling.*

The normal absence of oestrus during lactation may be connected with the severe strain which lactation imposes upon the resources of the dam; it is well known to the whalers that the leanest and least profitable whale, of any species, is a female which has been nursing for any length of time.

C

If view that the period of gestation has a duration of at least twelve

my months be correct, the pairing time must coincide with, rather than follow upon, In this coincidence of pairing and parturition the normal time of parturition. we may see a reason for the segregation of the humpback herds in "schools" of similar individuals, as well as of such facts as the occasional association in British

schools" of old bulls with "schools " of quite young females. waters of

Judging from the sexes of the fœtuses examined by Major Barrett-Hamilton at South Georgia females are considerably more numerous than males among southern humpbacks; and the fact that Mörch found the bulls in a decided majority at South Shetland must be regarded as a purely local and seasonal appearance due to the segregation of the migrating whales. The records of the sexes of the fœtuses of the northern humpbacks, although not very satisfactory, seem to indicate that among them no such preponderance of females exists.

FINBACK WHALES OR 'FINNERS" (Balenoptera PhySALUS, var.). Material examined.—184 finners (of which 105 were males and 79 were females) were landed at Leith Harbour, South Georgia, between 15th November, 1913, and 15th January, 1914. These were examined by Major Barrett-Hamilton, and the following list gives the sex, number, date of capture, and the total length (in a straight line from the tip of the mandible to the notch of the caudal flukes) of each specimen.

APPENDICES.

MALES.

FEMALES,

Nember.

Date of Capture.

Length in Feat. Number.

Date of Capture.

Length in Feet.

1913.

1913.

80

December 22

81

22

66 67.5

93

December 24

95

24

70 70

13

"

82

22

65

96

24

70.5

$1

"

88

22

67

100

24

72

"

84

92

70.5

.102

26

6.5

"

19

87

28

68.25

104

26

68

12

88

28

67.5

108

26

74

"

15

89

29

66

111

27

64.5

"

90

29

67-25

112

27

76.25

91

28

67.25

114

"

92

24

65.5

115

75 72

11

98

24

64.25

116

27

72

M

31

99

24

62.5

118

27

74

"

77

101

24

64.5

119

27

69

11

108

26

68.75

128

29

77

"

"

105

26

68.75

124

29

65

21

T

110

26

68

127

29

72

"

"1

the

118

87

66

184

80

70

"

12

121

29

67

188

80

72

11

125

- 29

62

144

80

70

128

29

69

155

81

78.5

"

129

29

69

147

81

64.5

19

17

180

29

67-5

148

81

67.75

11

"

181

29

54

"

189

80

65

"1

140

80

70

1914.

"

141

80

65

158

January 2

76-6

"

142

80

66

161

2

71

"

"

145

80

65

165

2

+1

*

149

81

70-75

170

8

"

156

81

65

171

69.5 circa 69.25 69

#1

11

178

78

178

68.25

1914.

185

79

159

January 2

67

191

65.5

168

67.75

195

5

65

#1

166

2

67.5

197

74

13

167

2

67

204

68.25

1

MALES.

FEMALES.

168

2

69-5

205

6

76-25

11

169

8

68.5 circa

207

78-5

#1

172

8

65-25

219

8

78-5

21

F1

Number.

Date of Capture.

Length in Feet. Number.

Date of Capture,

Length in Feet.

174

8

67-5

224

8

79

11

1

176

61-75

282

9

72

177

67.25

286

9

72

#

1918.

1913.

180

87-25

287

9

"1

**22313321887788872***

November 15 17

69.5

4

67.5

15

November 15 26

64.75 circu

188

66

244

10

78.5 70-25

"

75

184

67.75

245

10

82

"

December 1

69

18

December 1

78-5

186

70-5

250

10

72

29

1

68.5

88

6

75.5

"

21

187

69.25

252

12

66

27

1

62.5

87

9

75.5

15

190

5

65

254

12

76

"

19

67.5

88

9

78

"

196

5

68.75

261

12

69

15

"7

66

39

11

72

13

200

8

71.5

262

12

75

66

45

18

70

"

201

8

09

264

12

74

"

11

67.5

46

18

74

202

6

66

265

13

76.25

11

21

68

47

18

74

208

7

67.5

270

18

74.25

17

9

72

50

18

69

$1

209

7

62.25 (to tip

277

14

68

"

21

9

64.5

58

18

75

$9

of anout)

278

15

68.5

11

12

68

60

19

78

1)

218

68.25

282

15

68-5

11

11

15

68

61

19

78.5

"

214

68.25

284

15

74

11

19

66

64

19

74

12

215

66 circa

287

15

78

19

69

65

19

70-5

+1

218

69

20

68-75

"

66

20

68.5

17

19

220

67-5

20

68

67

20

78

13

»

221

85-75 circa

20

67-5

73

20

79

1

"

227

70-5

20

71

76

22

80

"

228

8

68.5

22

1

22

66 66

79

22

"

86

23

61 77

280

9

68.5

10

"

298

9

68

15

284

9

63.25

13

* It is, of course, necessary to bear in mind the Whaling Regulation (South Georgia) No. 1, which forbids the killing of females accompanied by calves (see p. 125).

240

10

67.5

#

1

100

APPENDICES.

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