42 



BULLETIN ;{(), UNITP:D states national MUSEUxM. 



I Lave observed it, is always clear plumbeous j^ray above. The color of 

 dead specimeus is very dark, but 1 liave never observed a greeuisb tinge 

 in the coloration. The types of T. catalania were lead-colored. We 

 might divide, therefore, the three species by their coloration as fol- 

 lows : 



1. Upper parts k'iul-colorcd. 



o. Belly spotted T. calaJania. 



h. Belly uuspotted T. tnrsio. 



2. Upper parts dark sea green. 



Belly spotted T. ahusalnm. 



The proportions of the body are much alike in T. catalania and T. 

 ahtisalam, as will be seen from the following comparative table: 



Measurements. 



Total leiiglli 



Tip of snout to eye 



Tip of snout to anterior base of doisal fin 



Heijrbt of dorsal tin (vertical) 



Distance between the extremities of tbc flukes 



The skeleton of T. catalania is unknown; for T. abusalam Riippell 

 gives the following vertebral formula: C, 7 ; B.,12; L., 10; Ca., 20=01. 



In two of the skeletons of T. tiirsio in the national collection, how- 

 ever, but twelve pairs of ribs are present, and in one of these, which 

 appears to be perfect, the total number of vertebrre is but sixty-one. • 

 We can, therefore, make no separation on the basis of the total num- 

 ber of vertebra*. 



From such indications as we possess, this species appears to be inter- 

 termediate between T. tursio and T. catalania, but most closely allied 

 with the latter. It would not bo a matter of surprise if it should prove 

 to be identical with T. catalania. 



Since the foregoing remarks were written Dr. W. Kobelt, director of 

 the Senckenberg Museum, has very obligingly sent meeome measure- 

 ments of the type-skull in the collections of that institution. From 

 these it appears that the beak is longer than in T. tursio, as already 

 stated, and is much narrower at the base than in either T. tursio or T. 

 catalania. Its breadth at the middle is about as in the latter species. 

 The breadth at the orbits, however, is less than in either of the others. 

 I subjoin the measurements: 



Measurements of the iupc sl-iiU of Tursioj^s ahusnlam, 9 • 



Centimeters. 



Total length 46.0 



Length of beak "27. 



Breadth of beak before the notches 9. 2 



Breadth of beak at its middle C 8 



Breadth of iiitermaxilhc at same iioint '5.4 



Breadth between centers of orbits IS. 7 



