thousand miles ; from what we know of seals and Whales and their powers of
abstinence at certain seasons, it is improbable that they feed on the way. In all
likelihood they proceed directly at their highest speed until they reach a point
some three hundred miles to the north of Ireland,1 where they are first viewed
in May approaching the Harris and Shetlands coasts. In June or July large
herds of Humpbacks are often seen (sometimes as many as two hundred being in
view at one time) sixty miles due west of Rona’s Voe. Here they join the great
bodies of the Finback and Rudolphi’s Rorquals, but do not actually consort with
them. After this date if the stream of ‘ kril ’ is present, they move very slowly,
following the crustaceans until September, the position of which at this date is,
roughly, one hundred miles N.N.E. of Muckle Flugga, Uist.
As in the case of the western movement in spring, a great section of the
eastern Humpbacks pass directly onwards and strike the Finmark coast, where
they live on the caplin until the end of June, when the attractions of the ‘ k r il’
keep them still longer, until the winter sets in and drives them south-westwards.
We can then only infer that they return across the Atlantic to their regular winter
quarters, or remain in the northern waters from October to April. Some few
wanderers reach as far north as Spitzbergen and eastern Iceland, and may even
pass on to the East Greenland coast and come south with the western body.
Of the movements of the Humpbacks that frequent the Antarctic seas we
know little beyond the interesting account given by Emile Racovitza of the
Belgian expedition.2
During the winter months this Whale is common in the neighbourhood of
many of the islands of the Central Pacific, and is regularly hunted by the natives of
the Friendly Islands. Of their migrations to the north or south we at present know
nothing. In the North Pacific Scammon bears testimony that the movements are
very irregular, at one time the Whales are seen in hundreds, at another singly. He
confirms the view that it migrates regularly ‘ from the warmer to the colder latitudes,
as the seasons change,’ going north in summer and returning south as winter sets in.
From May to August he reports Humpbacks as numerous, at such widely different
points as the coasts of California, Peru, and the Friendly. Islands ; yet he says that
the best months for Humpbacks in the Bay of Monterey, California, are October and
J The avoidance of the Irish coast by the Humpback is somewhat singular, since both the Blue Whale and the Finback
are by no means rare off the north coast of Donegal There seems to be only one record of this species on the Irish coast
See Robert Warren, Zoologist, May 1893, p. 189.
* Résultats du Voyage du S . Y Belgica, 1897-1899 ; Cétacés, 1903,
November. In August and September the species is also common about the
Aleutian Islands and as far north as the Arctic ice, where the Indians and the
Esquimaux hunt them in their frail boats. Of Western Pacific movements we know
very little, beyond that it is found on the coasts of Kamschatka and Japan.
H abits.— In disposition the Humpback is a gay and sportive animal, frequently
springing out of the water and engaging in uncouth gambols which American
whalemen designate as ‘ breaching ’ (jumping clear of the water), ‘ bolting ’ (rolling),
‘ lobtailing ’ (throwing the tail upwards), ‘ finning ’ (exposing the pectoral), and
‘ scooping ’ (wallowing on the surface). The Humpback goes through all these curious
antics, and may be described as the clown or white-tailed gnu of the ocean. As a
rule these Whales are of a fearless disposition, and will permit the close approach of
a boat or small steamer. They seem to have no regular mating season, but the
young are born during the summer months. ‘ In the mating season,’ says Captain
Scammon, ‘ they are noted for their amorous antics. At such times their caresses
are of the most amusing and novel character, and these performances have doubtless
given rise to the fabulous tales of the swordfish and thrasher attacking Whales.
When lying by the side of each other, the Megapteras frequently administer
alternate blows with their long fins, which love-pats may, on a still day, be heard
at a distance of miles. They also rub each other with the same huge and flexible
arms, rolling occasionally from side to side, and indulging in other gambols which
can easier be imagined than described. The time of gestation is not known, but in
all probability it is the same as that of other large Cetaceans, not exceeding ten or
twelve months. The calf, when brought forth, is about one fourth the length of
the dam; and it suckles by holding the teat between the extremity of the jaws or
lips, while the mother reclines a little on one side, raising the posterior portion
of her form nearly out of water, and lying in a relaxed condition. This
peculiar manner of suckling the young appears to be common to all the Whalebone
Whales.’
When the Whales first arrive on the Finmark coast the Humpbacks are the
only species of the large Whales which will voluntarily come into shallow water.
This they do, say the Fin-whalers, to rub their heads and pectorals against the
rocks so as to free them from the barnacles which at this season seem to cause them
great annoyance. Captains Castberg and Nilsen state that they have seen the
Humpback rubbing their heads against rocks so close in shore that a stone could
have been thrown upon their backs. At this season, too, they have often been
observed dozing on the surface of the sea in exactly the same curious position as