Zoological Society. 279 



BaljEnoptera rostrata, Gray, Zool. Voy. H.M.S. Erebus and 

 Terror, 50. t. 2. 



Balaena rostrata, Muller, Hunter, $c. 



Rorquaius minor, Knox, Jardine N.L. 142. t. 7. 



Inhabits the British coast, North Seas, Greenland. 



There is a skeleton of this species in the British Museum, and a 

 skull in the museum of the Hull Philosophical Society. 



In this species the first cervical vertebra is rather broader than 

 long; the central hole is half as high again as broad. The second 

 and third cervical vertebrae are united together by the upper edge. 

 The second cervical vertebra has a broad, much-expanded, lateral 

 process, with an oblong central hole near the body of the vertebra, 

 reaching rather more than half its length. The third, fourth, fifth 

 and sixth cervical vertebrae have two (upper and lower) lateral pro- 

 cesses ; the upper process of the third is the shortest and least de- 

 veloped, and these processes increase in length to the sixth. The 

 lower process of the third is the thickest ; the fourth and fifth rather 

 small, and in the sixth the basal part of the process is shorter, and 

 the upper part much-elongated and thinner. The seventh has only 

 the upper process, which resembles that of the first dorsal in form, 

 but is smaller. 



This species is the smallest of the family, and rarely if ever ex- 

 ceeds twenty-five or thirty feet in length. It is easily known by the 

 white spot on the base of the upper side of the pectoral fin. 



Genus Physalus, Finner Whales. 



The pectoral fin one-fourth, the dorsal fin three- fourths the length 

 of the body from the end of the nose. The cervical vertebrae all 

 separate and free. Vertebrae 54 to 64. Pectoral fin moderate, about 

 one-eighth the length of the body. Dorsal fin behind the orifice of 

 generation. Chest with longitudinal folds. 



This genus may be divided into two sections, according to the form 

 of the transverse apophyses of the cervical vertebrae. 



* The transverse apophyses of the cervical vertebra much- expanded, 

 united, forming a ring in the second to the sixth vertebra. Physalus. 



1. Physalus antiquorum. 



Balaena Physalus, Scoresby. 



Balaenoptera antiquorum, Fischer, Syn. 325 ; Gray, Z. E. # T. 50. 



Rorqual de la Mediterranee, Cuvier, Os. Foss. 



Inhabits British Ocean, Mediterranean. 



Skeleton at Black- Gang Chine, from Isle of Wight, and in Mr. 

 Patch's show, from Plymouth. 



The transverse apophyses are as broad as the body of the vertebra, 

 and the latter is oblong, half as broad again as high. Vertebrae 54, 

 viz. 7 cervical, 13 dorsal, 17 lumbar, and 17 caudal. The ribs are 

 simple. 



The lateral processes of the cervical vertebrae are much longer than 

 the width of the body of the vertebra ; the lateral process of the 



