5. I'HYSALUS. lUl 



" The form of the head is much like that of Ravin's figure of the 

 skull of P. antiquorum. It is 10 feet 10 inches long, 4 feet 8 inches 

 wide at the orbits, and 2 feet 9 inches wide at the base of the beak. 

 The lower jaw is 9 feet 8 inches long without allowing for the 

 curves.'" — It. Harrison. 



Finner Whales that have been onli/ imperfectly noticed. 



1. Physalus ? australis. Tlie Southern Finner. 

 Bahena Quoyii, Fischer, Si/n. 52(3. 



Hal.pna rostrata australis, Desmoulins, Diet. Class. H. N. ii. 166. 

 Biihcnoptera australis, Gray, Zool. E. 3f T. 51. 

 Bahenoptera australis. Southern Rorqual or Finback, Nimn. Narrat. 



Favourite, 183, fig. 

 Phjsalus ? australis. Gray, Cat. Cetac. B. 31. 1850, 44. 

 Inhab. Falkland Islands ( Qiioy). 



Desmoulins (Diet. Class. H. N. ii. 164), under the name of Balcena 

 rostrata australis, describes a whale seen by M. Quoy on the shores 

 of the Falkland Islands, which he saj-s was exactly like B. Physalus. 

 It was 55 feet long, and the pectoral fin 6 feet 3 inches — that is. 

 about one-eighth of the entire leiigth, the same as in Bahenoptera 

 Physalus ; but he says the dorsal fin was over the male organ — a 

 character which, as fai- as I know, is jjeculiar to the Humjiback 

 Whale {Meyaptera) — thus presenting a combination of characters 

 which, if correct, -wall not only prove it to be a distinct species, but 

 one forming a section by itself. 



Lesson (Tab. Regno Anim. i. 202) gives the name oi Bala^iopteia 

 australis to the " Fin-back of the whalers of the South Sea." It is 

 most probably intended for this species, as Falkland Islands is given 

 for the habitat; but it may be Meyaptera PoesX-op, or perhaps a 

 confusion of the two. 



'• The Fin-backed Whale of Desolation, near Kerguelen's Land, is 

 about 'M feet long. The whalebone short. The dorsal fin is arched 

 backwards, nearly over the pectoral, or, some fishermen say, a little 

 behind the middle of the back. The upper surface is black, lighter 

 beneath. The spout is single, much higlier than that of the Right 

 Whale (Bakrna) in the same latitude.'' — Kunns Narrative. The 

 figures, after the drawings of the whalers, represent the body only 

 as ratlier more than three times the length of the head. 



" From the description I have received of the Fin-fish (Bahmo- 

 ptera liorqual), which often appears in the bays of both the western 

 and eastern coasts of Africa, I feel disposed to regard it as the 

 liorqual. It may, however, prove to be a ditterent species when 

 those who can note its characters shall have an opportunity of ex- 

 amining a dead specimen. It is here rarely attacked by the fishers, 

 being considered dangerous, and of little value from its yielding but 

 a small i)ropurtion of oil. About twelve years ago one was killed 

 in Table Bay whicli measuied 95 feet." — A. Smith, African Quart 

 Journ. 130. -^ 



