PELORUS JACK."

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 14, 17 January 1913, Page 2

PELORUS JACK."

GRAMPUS OR ZIPHIUS?

Mr James Drummond, the wellknown scientist, writes as follows to the editor of the Christchurch Press: —In your Literary Page in. Saturday's issue, you quote a statement in Mr E. R. Waite's recent pamphlet on some New Zealand whales that "Pelorus Jack is identified in ' 'The Animals of .New1 Zealand" as a white whale, but thai, as "Jack" does not possess a dorsal fin, he cannot belong to the white whale's species. I should like to explain that "Jack" appears as a white whale in only the first edition of "The Animals of New Zealand." In the third edition, he is classified as a Grampus, the genus to which Mr Waite thinks he belongs. Mr Waite obviously ought to have consulted the latest, edition of the work, which is easily available to him. It is generally presumed that exceptional care is taken^in preparing scientific publications, and the statement, as it stands in Mr Waite's pamphlet, and as_ it is reproduced in The Press, is misleading to the public. I also feel that it is hardly fair to "The Animals of New Zealand."

The first edition of the work was published in 1904. When Captain Hutton and I were preparing the manuscript we had only the evidence of people who had seen "Jack." Most of those with whom we communicated agreed that his color was white, probably because they saw only his under part as he rose horizontally towards the surface. Nobody asserted" "that the dorsal fin was present, and several stated emphatically it was absent. The white whale is devoid of a dorsal fin; it is about the same size as "Jack"; and it is known to be very docile and easily tamed, qualities displayed by "Jack" in his strange fancy for the company of steamers that pass through" Pelorus Sound. He was therefore classified as a H Deluga or white whale (Lelphinapterus Leucas). I do not know if he had been photographed at that time; we had no photograph, or ? at least none that could help in his identification. Later in the same year however, a good photograph came into the possession of the Rev. D. C. Bates, of the Meteorological Department in Wellington. It distinctly showed a dorsal fin, and on Mr Bates's suggestion "Jack" was "gazetted'\ as a Risso's dolphin ■ffcnpus Griseus)—which has that ch.'MMfcristic. It is frequently stated, P^Jhe way, that "Jack" is the onrtfTA in the world protected' by a sp<<PM Act of Parliament' This is hardly correct. No Act was passed when he was protected. Protection was effected by issuing an Order-in-Council under the Sea Fisheries Act of 1894, which empowers the Governor to make regulations prohibiting peo^ pie from taking certain species of fish af <^ tain times- The second edition of "The Animals of New Zealand" was published in 1905. While Captam Hutton and I were revising the work, in preparation for that edition, we received a long letter from Mr P. g_ Threlkeld, of Ohoka, who saw Jack' eight times. Mr Threlkeld confirmed the statement that "Jack" had a dorsal fin. At the same time, he supplied details which led us to conclude that "Jack" was a Ziphioid whale, which also bears the dorsal fin. In the second edition, therefore, we changed his place, and classified him as Ziphms Cavirostris, commonly known as the goose-beak whale. Captain Hutton died in October, 1905 and I prepared the third edition of "The Animals of New Zealand" alone. It was published early in 1909. In that edition, I changed "Jack's" place once more, taking him out of the Ziphibid whales, and making him a Grampus Griseus. I did this because I received several letters . from other countries, pointing out that "Jack" was indentified as Ziphius in "The Animals of New Zealand," and as a Grampus in the "Gazette," and asking if there were two individuals, both with the same peculiar habits. It is difficult to distinguish between Ziphius and Grampus unless the specimens are available for inspection, and I felt that it was better to avoid confusion and follow the notice in the

"Gazette," which, right or wrong, is an official publication. There is little doubt that "Jack" is either Ziphius Cavirostris (goosebeaked whale) or Grampus Griseus (Risso's dolphin). One point in favor of the theory that he is a Ziphioid whale is the fact that about five reliable specimens of the Ziphius Cavirostris have been recorded from New Zealand, all from the South Island. Writing from memory I think that one came from Lyttelton Harbor, ,ono from New Brighton, one from Warrington, about 20 miles north of Dunedin, and one from the Chatham Islands. This a large proportion, in view of the fact that there are only twelve records of this animal having been captured on the French and English coasts, although it is about 90 years since the speciesl was established by Cuvier, the French naturalist. On the other hand, with the exception of "Jack's" doubtful identification, no specimen of the Grampus has been recorded here. If all the other points were equal, that point would weigh, so it shows that Ziphius frequents New Zealand waters, while Grampus does not. Another point in favor of the Ziphioid theory is that Ziphius Cavirostris is a animal," while Grampus Griseus is gregarious. "Jack's"

nabits are those of a solitary species, not a gregarious species. He is a lonely individual, without, apparently, one mate. The coloration of the Grampus is characterised by conspicuous and peculiar markings. I have not heard that "Jack" possesses them. If they were present on his body they could hardly have escaped the notice of all who have seen him. They have an important specific value. This is recognised by Mr JJrank E. Bedford, Prosector of the Zoological Society, who in "A Book on \\ hales, 3' which is the latest work on the subject, and is a very able treati&e, says:—"The prevailing tint" —that is of the Grampus—"is grey varying on the fins and tail to blade and to white on the belly. This white has a yellowish tinge anteriorily, but a curious feature of the coloration is a series of irregular light streaks and spots, suggestive of scrapings upon wet paint. I n the younger individuals the sides are marked with these irregular transverse stripes." Ihe evidence in regard to the shape &! 1™X S head is-conflicting Mr »t ,» 4' for says that Jack has the goose beak, while a writer m The Field, Mr Gordon Shaw, incidentally remarks that "he resembles a shark, with his semi-circu-lar month under a protruding snout " indicating that he has no beak, which tt ?., characteristic of the Grampus, until we know more about "Jack's" structure, it is almost impossible to place him definitely. The best plan apparently, m the meantime, s to allow him to retain the title of Grampus or Risso's dolphin. It is a title which be welcomed, as it KSSiS" th« — <>f - 1-ored