EXTINCT MONSTERS.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—Under this heading in your issue of May 21st there is an excellent review of Mr. H. N. Hutchinson's recent work. The casual reader, however, might retain the impression that there exists no living creature approaching in bulk animals of bygone aeons. It should not be forgotten that the world still contains a huger mammal than any whereof remains have been discovered hitherto. Sibbald's rorqual (Balaenoptera Sibbaldi) not infrequently exceeds Diplodocus Carnegii in length, and of course its bulk and weight are immensely greater. This mighty whale set man at defiance by its enormous strength until the invention some twenty years ago of the destructive bomb-harpoon, by means of which it is regularly taken now, so that the day is probably not far distant when the blue whale will become as scarce as the Greenland right whale. It is a matter for curious speculation what will be the effect of the decimation of this species upon the swarms of small crustaceans (Bupltausia inernais), whereof billions form the daily ration of every Sibbald's rorqual during the summer months.—I am, Sir, lec.,
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