Journal of Proceedings. lxxiii
Rudolphi's Rorqual (Bahenojjtera borealis), lately taken in the River
Crouch, Essex " (Trans. iv. 111).
The President pointed out that no proper drawing of the animal had
been taken, a fact which showed how necessary it was that the Club
should be made, in the words of their recent circular, the " Scientific
Registration Office for Essex." They ought to have the first intimation
of discoveries of the kind, and then they would be able to send a
competent person to the spot to draw up descriptions and take drawings
of such objects as were of a transitory character, and which must be
described and recorded at once.
Mr. Meldola remarked that views of the Whale had been taken by
a photographer at Southend. He had ordered several prints, and
should have pleasure in presenting them to the Club.
Mr. W. Cole said that the Rudolphi's Rorqual made the fifth species of
whale recorded as occurring on the Essex shores. Mr. E. A. Fitch had
sent a letter containing some details of the capture. The Whale was
caught by a Leigh fisherman named Page on a shoal at the mouth of
the River Crouch off Hollowell Point on November 1st, and was by him
and others killed by driving some dozen hard chisels into its head and
by forcing an iron crowbar down its mouth ! This treatment the poor
beast seemed to bear for a long time, but eventually it succumbed to
the cruelty of its captors, and they towed it over to Cricksea Ferry on
the Rochford Hundred side of the river, where Mr. Fitch's uncle, Mr.
Rogers of Burnham, took possession of the "Royal Fish " in the name
of the Lord of the Manor. The "fish" was eventually trollied over to
Southend and exhibited, but, becoming rather "high" during the
time, it made some commotion in the town, driving everyone away
from its neighbourhood, and even, it was reported, causing some
illness.
Enforcing what had fallen from the President, Mr. Cole reminded the
Club of the finding lately of a part of a human skeleton at Tilbury. The
fact was only reported to the executive at the Fungus meeting, and one
of the members of the Council at once went down to Tilbury, only to
find that the skeleton had been already taken away to London. A paper
upon the subject had been read by Prof. Owen at a late meeting of the
Royal Society, and had the Club secured timely notice of the discovery
it was probable that Professor Owen's paper would have been com.
municated to the Club. He thought that every effort should be made
by members residing in different parts of the county to keep the officers
and council of the Club well informed of such things, so that proper
action might be taken before too late. [Applause.]
Prof. Boulger then read " Some additional Notes on Essex Water-
sheds " (Trans. iv, 131). He mentioned that since the publication of
his former paper he had been consulted with reference to the botanical
sub-division of Surrey and Lancashire upon the same system, so he
thought he might say that most county floras, and possibly faunas also,