OBSERVATIONS ON LIVING WHITE WHALES (DEL- 



PHINAPTERUS LEUCAS) ; WITH A NOTE ON THE 



DENTITION OF DELPHINAPTERUS AND 



STENODELPHIS 



By FREDERICK W. TRUE 

 Head Curator oi' Biology, U. S. National Museum 



With One Plate 



In June, 1908, I had an opportunity of studying two living white 

 whales which were kept in confinement in a large tank on one of the 

 piers at Atlantic City, New Jersey. Although living individuals of 

 this species have been many times exhibited to the public, very little 

 has been published regarding them, so far as I have been able to 

 ascertain, and it seems to me, therefore, desirable to place on record 

 the observations which I have made. 



The two specimens exhibited at Atlantic City were both youngish, 

 and one of them (which I will designate as specimen A) was in an 

 enfeebled condition, either through disease or lack of nourishment. 

 It died soon after I saw it, and the remains were towed out to sea. 

 This individual was about 10 feet long and was reported to be a 

 female. 



The second individual (specimen B) was a young female 8 feet 

 23^2 inches long in a straight line. It was very active when I saw it, 

 but died about a month later, and the body was presented to the Na- 

 tional Museum by Mr. A. M. Renshaw through Mr. J. S. Young. 



The larger female (specimen A) was of a purplish white color, 

 with darker purplish gray spots, lines and mottlings. The principal 

 mottled area was on the head. There were several straight lines on 

 the back about a foot long, each consisting of three striae — a central 

 dark purplish one, with a white edging, and a lighter purplish line 

 on either side. The dorsal fin, or ridge, and the anterior edge of the 

 pectorals were purplish gray, and some faint purplish lines indicated 

 the position of the digits. The posterior margin of the pectorals was 

 white. The flukes were similar in color to the pectorals. The head 

 presented the blunt, rounded form characteristic of the species. Its 

 girth increased from the eyes backward, but the neck, seen from 

 above, presented a slight constriction. The thorax was nearly flat 

 on top. The dorsal fin, or ridge, was quite sharp and distinct, be- 

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