Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/41

Rh suggestion, but should you think it worth consideration, I should feel obliged by its insertion in 'The Zoologist.' — T.W. Barlow ; Holmes Chapel, October 6th, 1845.

Enormous take of Whales at Lerwick, September 22nd. — On Thursday last an immense body of whales visited Quendall Bay, and were received with every demon- stration of rejoicing. The moment the cry of " whales coming ! " was heard, one general and simultaneous rush towards the shore was made by the inhabitants. Boats were manned, axes shouldered, harpoons handled, knives laid hold of, old pickaxes, shovels, spades, pokers, hammers, and every other available lethal weapon held in requisition — plash went the oars, the excited rowers being stripped. What an animating sight ! The dealing of deadly blows, the rushing in of the ponderous shoal, and the dying throes of the expiring monsters, all united in an incongruous harmony to add to the intensity of interest felt on the occasion. ' For two hours the deadly combat lasted ; at last one loud and long shout of victory was raised from the trium- phant Zetlanders, who stood gloating over 1540 whales ! What a capture, and what a scene ! No language can portray it, and therefore to attempt a description were needless. Not one escaped — all lay in one heap of slain. Some of the young men, when chasing the shoal into shallow water actually left their boats and sat astride the animals riding them to the shore. The history of the whale catching in Zetland does not afford an instance of such an extensive capture in such an incredibly short period of time. A handsome sum is expected to be realised by the captors as the reward of their labours. — John o'Groat's Journal.

Capture of Whales. — During the last six weeks the inhabitants of the Faroe Islands have captured no fewer than 2800 whales. A whole cargo of whalebone has been dispatched from these Islands to England ; it is intended for manure. On the 5th instant one hundred and fifty bottle-noses got the finishing stroke at Sandwick ; and on the same day at West Voe, off Sandburg, one hundred were captured and slain. The day was fine, and the scene at both places was of the most animating description. The blubber was next day sold at £10 per tun. —Examiner, September 27th, 1845.

similarity between my figure and that just published by Mr. Yarrell in the Supplement to his History of British Birds, cannot fail to strike every ornithologist who has seen both engravings ; but this similarity will, I trust, be satisfactorily explained when I inform my readers that both engravings were made from the same drawing, and therefore that neither is a copy of the other. The drawing was made by Mr. Robert Davis, of Clonmel, and kindly transmitted for the use of both publications.

From the circumstances already related of the occurrence of this bird (Zool. 1190), I think little doubt can be entertained that it is truly native in the South of Ireland, both the present specimen, and a second unfortunately not preserved, being evidently in immature plumage, and there is every reason to suppose that this eagle has long been known to the inhabitants of Ireland, and always supposed to be the Golden Eagle. This rich country seems almost a terra incognita to naturalists, and every succeeding month of 'The Zoologist's' existence seems destined to record some of its manifold treasures.