16 OCTOBER 1926, Page 16

THE WHALE

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

am glad that you have found room for my letter, referring to the Mablethorpe Whale, in your issue of October 9th, and for the explanation, in your editorial comments, that you were animated by the 'desire not to attack the Museum but to secure protection 'for animals. The latter is a motive with which we are in full sympathy.

I had referred to the existence of strong evidence that the whale was comatose and unconscious during the whole of its journey ; and you criticize this as not reconcilable with my statement that it was ddad at the end of about half a day. I think you have here assumed that the whale spent three days on the lorry. As a matter of fact, the entire jOurney lasted about 24 hours, and the animal died 'some 12 hours before it ended. The whale was first stranded about 11 p.m.on Titesday;' September 14th. It was placed 'on the hirrY on the morning of Thursday, September 16th, the journey to London Commenc- ing• at about noon on that day, and the whale dying a little. before 1 a.m. in the early hours of Friday,- September 17th. The lorry arrived at the Museum about 12 honrs later, and the " three days " of the correspondence thus correspond roughly.

with the period (21 days) from the time of the first stranding (September 14th, 11 p.m.) to the arrival of the whale at the Museum (September 17th, rather before 1 p.m.). The whale had lived for about one and a half days on the shore, including in this period part of September 15th, when an effort was made to save its life by towing it out to sea. It lived another half day on the lorry, and its dead carcass was on the road for a further half day, the concluding part of this episode.

The principal facts are given in the paper, dated October 1st, 1926, of which I enclose a copy.—I am, Sir, &c., British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London, S.W. 7. S. F. HARMER.— P.S.—By " the whole of its journey " 1, of course, meant the whole of that part of its journey when it was alive : the only part which needed discussion.— S. F. II.