[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—I have read the
two letters on the above subject appear- ing in your paper. Your first correspondent," B. M. B.," tells of a whale killed in False Bay emitting a series of "deep roars or bellows" when harpooned. This I can corroborate, as I was present when it occurred. Mr. Frank Bullen throws doubt on "B. M. B.'s "statement, and says that though he has seen many whales die and beard a kind of strangulated groan, "the sound was not in the least like either a roar or a bellow." In reply to this may I quote to Mr. Bullen from his very fascinating "Cruise of the Cachalot "? In chapter viii. occurs this passage, describing the death of a sperm whale, "Torrents of blood poured from his spout-hole accompanied by hoarse bellowings as of some gigantic bull, . . . caused by the labouring breath trying to pass the clogged air.passages." This same explanation for the bellows of the False Bay whale
[This correspondence must now cease.—ED. Spectator.]
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