BEAKED WHALES, FAMILY ZIPHIID^ — TKUE. 61 



Island. Original number 2191. This specimen is accompanied by notes and 

 measurements. 



(4) Cat. No. 49726. — Skeleton and measurements of an adult female. Near 

 East Eookery, St. George Island, Pribilof Group. Collected by James Judge, in 

 June, 1903. Length, 40 feet 2 inches. 



(5) Cat. No. 49727. — Skeleton and measurements of an immature male. Same 

 locality and date as the preceding. Length, 2.5 feet 5 inches. 



The two skeletons (4) and (5) are somewhat incomplete. The Museum received 

 a photograph of the female from Maj. Ezra W. Clark. 



(6) Cat. No. 4972.5. — Skeleton and two photographs of an adult male ( ?) 

 stranded on Centerville beach near Ferndale, Humboldt County, California, October, 

 1904. Length, about 41 feet. 



A brief note on the St. George Island and California skeletons was published 

 by the author in Science for 1904." The dimensions given by the collectors were 

 so large as to raise doubts whether they were correct, but the arrival of the skeletons 

 proved that thej' were not overstated, and that the specimens were b}- far the 

 largest ziphioid whales ever discovered, the bones about equaling those of a hump- 

 back whale in size and massiveness. 



HISTORY OF THE ST. GEORGE ISLAND SPECIMENS. 



The St. George Island specimens were first maile known b}' Mr. James Judge, 

 special agent of the Treasury Department, resident at the Pribilof Islands, in letter 

 dated June 16, 1903, as follows: 



I was much surprised the other day to find a pair of whales ashore near East Rookery [St. George 

 Island]. They lay about 1.50 yards apart. The female was 40 feet 2 inches, the male 2.5 feet .5 inches 

 in length. The species is not positively identified, but tallies closely with the Globe Encyclopedia 

 description of Bottlehead or Bottlenose whale, Hyperodoon bidentalus. Natives call it "Tcha-dhan." 

 The male is without teeth; female has two teeth in front of lower jaw.6 The skin is thin, smooth, white 

 underneath, and black above. Dorsal fin small and well aft. Caudal large and powerful. Eyes very 

 small. Ears not vi.sible. 



Thinking that the skeleton might be of use, the bones of the female were cut out and placed high 

 and dry on the grass. Four ribs were broken; otherwise the bones are intact. The male was towed to 

 East Landing, and with the aid of a capstan deposited beyond reach of surf. Some blubber was saved. 

 The foxes will clean up the bones during August, so that in all probability both skeletons will be avail- 

 able this fall. * » * I inclose some measurements, taken roughly, with a 5-foot tape line. 



"Science, new ser., vol. 20, 1904, p. 888. 



6 At the time this was written it was not known that there were really four teeth in the lower jaw, but 

 it is interesting to note that when the mandible was covered by the integuments none of the teeth was 

 visible in the male, although the individual was 25 feet long, and that only two teeth were visible in the 

 adult female. 



