THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NOUTH ATLANTIC. 5 



method was used. The difference is, I believe, immatei-ial wliere an average is 

 drawn from a considerable number of specimens. It must be admitted that there 

 is some uncertainty as to how to interpret the measurements of various observers, 

 and I am fully conscious that the tables are not mathematically correct. Still, I 

 am convinced that their inaccuracy is not such as to materially vitiate the result. 

 The literature of cetology is in every language of western Europe, and the dimen- 

 sions of specimens ai'e similarly recorded in every variety of measure, such as 

 Rheiuland feet, old French feet, Spanish feet, Danish feet, Russian feet, and so 

 forth. To avoid the great loss of time in converting all these measures to one 

 system, I have reduced the dimensions in each instance to percentages of the total 

 length. This has many advantages besides avoiding laborious calculations, which 

 will be readily recognized. Where it has been necessary to cite actual measure- 

 ments, I have reduced them all to English feet and inches, in the belief that for 

 large dimensions this is preferable to employing the metric system. In the United 

 States, at least, metric tapes for measui-emeiits up to 30 meters are not readily 

 obtainable. All quoted matter is translated into English. 



No attention has been paid to the Greenland Right whale, or Bowhead, Balwna 

 mysticetm, in this coimectiou, as no new material of value was available. The 

 omission of this species is not especially important on account of the elaboi-ate 

 researches of Eschricht and Reinhardt, with which every cetologist is familiar. 



