1. BAL.T,NA. 81 



with a broader articulating surface (see Eschr. &, Reinh. o/). cit. t. 2. 

 f. 1-3). 



" The number of vertebrsc 54. Pairs of ribs 13. Head more than 

 one-third the total length of the body. Nasal bones long and nar- 

 row ; orbital processes of frontals much elongated, sloping backwards, 

 and very little dilated at theii- extremity. Cervical vertebrae all 

 anchylosed. Baleen-plates very long, and narrow at the base." — 

 Flower, P. Z. S. 1864, 390. 



There seems to be some variety in the union of the cervical ver- 

 tebrae. According to Eschricht the B. M)/stiretus has the first five 

 cer\-ical vertebra; united, and the sixth and seventh free. Mr. Flower 

 (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, 391) describes this as the character of Eu- 

 halceiut, and gives the cerncal vertebrae all anchylosed together as 

 the character of Baltvna (p. 390). The specimen I have examined 

 agrees with Mr. Flower's description. 



1. Balsena Mysticetus. The Rigid Whale. 



Head depressed. There are two series of tubercles on each side 

 of the lower lip ; and, according to Scorcsby's figure, the head is two- 

 sevenths, the fins one-thii'd, the vent two-thirds, and the sexual 

 organs four-sevenths from the nose. 



Females larger than the males. 



The nose of the skull is regularly and gradually arched above, 

 rather -wide behind, near the blowhole ; the nose and the inter- 

 maxillary bones regularly taper in front. The hinder end of the 

 jaw-bones is obliquely produced behind, and the frontal bones are 

 narrow, ncarlj- linear, and oblique ; temporal bone narrow, oblique. 



The baleen is verj^ long, varjdng from 9 to 12 feet, linear, taper- 

 ing very gradually, of nearly the same moderate thickness from end 

 to end, and covered with a polished grey or greenish-black enamel. 

 The internal fibres occupy a small part of the substance, are parallel, 

 of a fine uniform texture, and black. The enamel, which forms by 

 far the greater part of the substance, is generally blackish ; but some- 

 times, especially on the inner side of the " fin," it is paler in longi- 

 tudinal stripes. The fibres on the edge, like the internal fibres of 

 which they are a continuation, are very fine and black. The "fins" 

 or pieces of baleen are fiat, or as the merchant calls them " kindly," 

 so that they produce straight pieces fit for the better kind of parasols 

 and umbrcUas, &c., when cut into strips. 



fJalrena Mvsticctus arctica, Schlcf/vl, Ahhandl. 3G. 



Balfena Mvsticetus, Linn. S. N. i. 105 ; Gnu-Un, S. N. i. 223 ; MMer, 



Zool. Dan. (i : Erxl. Si/st. 601 ; O. Fahr. F. G. 32; Schrcb. Sciiti/eth. 



t. 322 ; C»v. liiq. Anim. i. 285, ed. 2. i. 296 ; Ow. Foss. v. 361. t. 25. 



f. 9, 11 (adult skull, B. M.), t. 26. f. 25 ; Lesson, CEuvr. Bnffhn, i. 294. 



1. 11 ; i><«w. Mamin. 527, 798; Diet. Class. H. N. ii. 160; Camper, 



CMuc. t. 4, 5, 6 (skull of voung) ; Fischer, Syn. 521 ; Volkmann, Anat. 



Anim. Tab. 1831, t. 9. f' 5 (skull, fcvtus ?) ; Bell, B. Quad. 514, fig. ; 



Kilsson, iSIiand. Fiinia, 642; Tiirton.B. Fauna, 15; Fleming, B. A. 



33 ; Jcni/ns, Man. 46; Grai/, Zool. Erelms S,- Terror, 15. 47."t. 1. f. 4 



(baleen); Cat. Mamm. B. M. 104; Cat. Cetac. B. M. 1850, 12: Proc. 



Zool. Soc. 1864, 200 ; Lilljehonj, Ofvers. 107. 



