NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHIA. 19 



curved outwards, and acuminate. There is a distinct angular process below 

 the condyle. 



Measurements. 



Ft. In. 



Length of cranium (axial) 10 6- 



Greatest width of occipitals 3 7- 



Width at supraorbital plate 4 4- 



" of each maxillary at middle 975 



" of supraorbitals above orbit 13- 



" (least) of frontal region 13-5 



" of nasals..... 43 



" intermaxillaries at middle S-3 



Length nasal 6- 



" malar , 



" maxillary above 7 6* 



" ramus mandibuli (in curve) 10 



" " " to coronoid 19" 



Depth " " at condyle. 8-5 



" " " at coronoid 13* 



" " " at middle 9- 



Length otic bulla... 5-2 



The baleen is short, and of a dark lead color, the inner and shorter margin 

 white for varying widths. The bristles are fine for the size of the animal, and 

 not nearly so coarse as in Megaptera osphyiaor Rhachianectes g 1 a u c u s. 



In. 



Length of longest plates with gum 15 



Width at base , 10 



No. plates in four inches 10 



Whole number plates on one side, 126 preserved — add about 24 



lost from extremity 150 



Most of the ribs are yet in process of cleaning, and will be introduced into 

 the final monography and illustration of the North American Cetacea in course 

 of preparation. That which by its deeply bifurcate head indicates the generic 

 affinities of the species, is in form much like the first of S. I a t i c e p s. It 

 measures in 



Ft. In. 



Total length , 3 



Distal width.., 7-25 



The anterior head is the narrower, and its line of junction with the posterior 

 extends to near the middle of the length of the same. 



The animal's color above was a uniform black ; the exterior face of the flip- 

 pers and stripes along the gular plica were also black. The belly was white. 

 Separated, according to my informant, from the black abruptly, forming a 

 " water line." The posterior face of the flippers white for the distal half. The 

 under side of the caudal fluke white also. These points I derived from Joshua 

 Carey, who stripped the carcass. 



The dorsal fin was not seen by me, but was described by a number of parties, 

 whose statements agreed. It was of the usual form and elevation common 

 among finner whales, compressed, with a long base, and eighteen inches in 

 height^ the dorsal line behind it clean and smooth. 



The species appears to be most nearly allied to the S. laticeps of Gray, of the 

 Arctic Seas. It differs distinctly in the following points : 1. The nasal bones 

 of the latter are longer, more parallelogrammic, and not strongly keeled and 

 mucronate, 2. The coronoid process of the mandible is less elevated. 3d. 

 The cervical vertebra;, including the axis, are furnished with well developed 

 spinous processes. 4. The mandibular ramus is more compressed. 5. The 

 vomer is more, and (6) the pterygoids are less prolonged posteriorly. 



The difference from the S. tuberosus is found ia the form of the dorsal 



1869.J 



