ANDREW

See also:

• ATKINSON, EDWARD (1827—1905)
• ATKINSON, SIR HARRY ALBERT (1831—1892)

ATKINSON

See also:

• ANDREW ATKINSON HUMPHREYS (1810-1883)

HUMPHREYS (1810-1883)  , American soldier and engineer, was born at Philadelphia on the 2nd of November 181o . He was the son of Samuel Humphreys (1778-1846), chief constructor U.S.N., and grandson of Joshua Humphreys (1751-1838), the designer of the " Constitution". and other famous frigates of the war of 1812, sometimes known as the " father of the American navy." Graduating from West Point in 1831, he served with the 2nd Artillery in the Florida war in 1835 . He resigned soon afterwards and devoted himself to civil engineering . In 1838 he returned to the army for survey duties, and from 1842 to 1849 was assistant in charge of the Coast Survey Office . Later he did similar work in the valley of the in all of which his mastery Humpback Whale (Megaptera longimana or boops) . allied species) is found in nearly all seas; and when full-grown may reach from 45 ft. to 50 ft. in length, the flippers which are indented along their edges measuring from io ft. to 12 ft. or more . The general colour is black, but there are often white markings on the under surface; and the flippers may be entirely white, or parti-coloured like the body . Deep longitudinal furrows, folds or plaits occur on the throat and chest . It is said that the popular name refers to a prominence on which the back fin is set; but this " hump " varies greatly in size in different individuals . The humpback is a coast-whale, irregular in its movements, sometimes found in " schools," at others singly . The whalebone is short, broad and coarse; but the yield of oil from a single whale has been as much as 75 barrels . A few examples of this whale have been taken in Scotland and the north of England (see CETACEA) .