xii THE CALIFORNIAN WHALE 357 



in the southern form of the genus, which is known as M. lalandii. 

 The head, it should also be remarked, is studded with large 

 tubercles about the size of an orange, which seem to be hyper- 

 trophied rudiments of the hairs, which should be present in this 

 region of the body. As is the case with other Whales, numerous 

 species have been made out of individuals of Megaptera. Captain 

 Scammon, who observed many " gams " or herds of these Whales, 

 remarked x that he had extreme difficulty in finding any two 

 individuals precisely alike ! The best-known species in any case 

 is the northern M. longimana, which occurs on our own coasts. 

 The genus is, like so many Cetaceans, world-wide in range ; and 

 it is possible that the difference in the scapula already referred to 

 may justify the separation of a southern M. lalandii (with which 

 in that case, perhaps, M. capensis and M. novae zelandiae will be 

 synonymous). Quite recently M. Gervais has insisted upon a 

 Megaptera indica from the Persian Gulf. Megaptera grows to 

 a length of 50 to 60 feet. Seventy-five feet have been stated, 

 but measurements of Whales have usually to be received with 

 caution. 



Ehackianectes, with but one species, -B. glaucus, 2 the " Cali- 

 fornian Grey Whale," is the last genus of the family Balaenop- 

 teridae. This Whale is but imperfectly known anatomically ; but 

 quite sufficient has been ascertained to show its great divergence 

 from Balaenoptera or Megaptera. The dorsal fin is completely 

 absent, and the throat pleats, so characteristic of the typical 

 Balaenopteridae, are reduced to two. It has, however, the general 

 outline of a Eorqual, with a relatively small head. In osteo- 

 logical characters it tends to unite the two families Balaenop- 

 teridae and Balaenidae (if they are really necessary subdivisions). 

 The skull is on the whole Rorqual - like ; but its fore -part is 

 narrow as in the Greenland Whale, and the premaxillaries are 

 pinched up in the middle line so as to be visible from the side ; 

 this again is a Balaenid character. The cervical vertebrae are 

 free as in Eorquals, and the sternum is quite as in that group. 

 The scapula has more the shape of that of Balaena. 



Rhachianectes glaucus is confined to the Pacific, and has been 

 extensively hunted from the shore. It is not, however, a very 

 valuable Whale, since the baleen is short as in Rorquals, and the 



1 Marine Mammals of the Xorth-West Coast of North America, 1874. 

 2 Cf. Scammon, loc. cit. 



