-going people--outside of professional whalemen or
sealers--know much about the "killer" and his habits, and still less
of his appearance. Yet this curious whale (for the killer is one of the
minor-toothed whales) is known all over the world, though nowhere is
it more plentiful than along the eastern and southern coasts of the
Australian continent. In the colder seas of the northern part of the
globe it is not uncommon; and only last year one was playing havoc,
it was stated, with the fishermen's nets off the northeastern coast of
Ireland.

On the eastern seaboard of Australia, however, the killers can be
watched at work, even from the shore, particularly from any bluff or
headland from which a clear view can be obtained of the sea beneath, and
should there be a westerly wind blowing, their slightest movements may
be observed; particularly when they are "cruising," i.e., watching for
the approach of a "pod" of either humpback or fin-back whales. During
the prevalence of westerly winds the sea water becomes very clear, so
clear that every rock and stone may be discerned at a depth of six
or eight fathoms, and the killers, when waiting for their prey, will
frequently come in directly beneath the cliffs and sometimes remain
stationary for half an hour at a time, rolling over and over, or sunning
themselves.

First of all, let me describe the killer's appearance. They range in
length from ten to twenty feet, have a corresponding girth, and show the
greatest diversity of colouring and markings. Their anatomy is very much
that of the sperm whale--the one member of the cetacean family which
they do not attempt to attack on account of his enormous strength and
formidable teeth--and they "breach," "spout" and "sound" like other
whales. The jaws are set with teeth of from one or two inches in length,
deeply imbedded in the jawbone, and when two of these creatures succeed
in fastening themselves to the lips of a humpback, even fifty feet in
length, they can always prevent him from "sounding" and escaping into
deep water, for they cling to the unfortunate monster with bull-dog
tenacity, leaving others of their party to rip the blubber from his
sides and pendulous belly.

On the coast of New South Wales--particularly at Twofold Bay, where
there is a shore whaling station, there are two "pods" or communities
of killers which have never left the vicinity within the memory of the
oldest inhabitant, and indeed they were first noticed