On the anatomy of a fin-whale (Physalus antiquorum, Gray) captured near Gravesend / by James Murie.

  • Murie, James.
Date:
[1865]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the anatomy of a fin-whale (Physalus antiquorum, Gray) captured near Gravesend / by James Murie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    In May 1859, my friend Mr. Frank Buckland informed me that a large Whale had been captured in the Thames, near Gravesend; and as we both were desirous of examining such an animal, we at once proceeded to the place in question. It proved to be a fine adult male of the above species. The history of its capture, as related to us, is briefly as follows :— The gigantic creature, on endeavouring to make its way up the river, had been observed near Thames Haven by some members of the Coast Guard, who attacked and finally succeeded in killing it by in- flicting three severe sword-wounds. The body was towed up the river, and hauled ashore in the vicinity of Gravesend, where it was exhibited for some days. The fleshy parts of the carcase were purchased by Mr. Blaker, an oil-merchant, in order to be boiled down. While the animal was being cut in pieces for this purpose, I had an opportunity of exami- ning the body and viscera, and I obtained some portions which now form preparations in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. The skeleton was purchased by Mr. George Jones, the proprietor of the Rosherville Gardens, where it is at present exhibited. My thanks are due to that gentleman for his courtesy in allowing me to make a full examination of it. In the first place, with respect to the dimensions of the animal, the following table expresses certain of the external proportions of the body, measured from the same points as those selected by Mr. [2]