94 THE WHALEEOXE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



Cape Cod, Mass. The coronoid process of the mandible is prominent in both these 

 specimens, and in No. 21492 increases the total depth of the jaw from 10 inches to 

 12 inches, though as it is strongly inclined outward, the vertical height of the 

 process itself exceeds 3 inches. In M. Iongiinana,h\vt]ievmove, if Struthers's speci- 

 men is to be regarded as representing that species, the coronoid is not inconspicuous. 

 Struthers's measurements are— anterior mai'gin H inches, posterior margin 3|. inches. 

 As no measurements are given by Cope for M. ospliyla, it is difficult to estimate the 

 exact import of the word "rudimentaiy " which he employs. An examination of 

 the type shows that the corouoids have been cut off at the top. Whether they 

 were in this condition when Cope saw tiiem is uncertain, but probable. The 

 coronoid is, of course, less well developed in the Humpbacks than in the Finbacks. 



We have now reviewed all that has been recorded of the type of M. osphyia, 

 and it will be conceded, I think, that there is no I'eason to suppose that it should 

 be separated from other specimens from the Atlantic coast of the United States, as 

 a distinct species. Whether the American species is different from the European 

 longimana — the main question at issue — will be considered latei-. 



The type-skeleton of M. osi)hyia is figureil on pi. 36. As already stated, it 

 was formerly in a small museum on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, but has now 

 been removed to a new museum building near the Catai'act Hotel on the American 

 side. A wi'itten label on the skeleton reads : 



"Skeleton of a whale 50 ft. long. Caught by Capt. Bickford, of the ship 

 Falton, near the Petit [Manan] Lighthouse, on the coast of Maine, July, 1844. It 

 weighed about 70 tons. The jaw bones measured 12 feet. 18 people can sit in 

 its mouth. It was towed into Birch Harbor, and there prepared for exhibition. It 

 is the only specimen of its kind known." 



A printed label says : ". . . weighing about 70 tons, it was captured by 

 Captain J. Bickfoi'd, of the ship Ftdton, on the coast of ^Nlaine, 40 miles at sea. 

 Petit Manan Light House, Jul)^, 1844," etc. 



The skeleton is mounted with all the vertebrae, except the atlas, reversed. 

 The curvature of the dorsal region is exaggei'ated. Each pectoral limb has three 

 digits, and three phalanges in each digit (exclusive of metacarpals), an entirely 

 artificial arrangement. 



Actual measurements of the skeleton, made by myself in 1900, are as follows : 



MEGAPTERA OSPHYIA COPE. (TYPE.) 



Skull : Inchn. 



Total length (straight) i35-o 



Greatest breadth (squamosal) 78.5 



Post-squatnosal breadth 66.0 



Breadth of orbital process of frontal at distal end, least 9.5 



" " " " " " greatest 14.0 



Length of rostrum (straight) 89.0 



" " at middle (curved) 31.5 



Length of mandible (straight) 1 29,0 



" " " (curved) 144.0 



Depth of mandible at middle 11.5 



