THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



125 



general color of the surroundiag parts. A light line began at the ear and curving 

 in a semicircle was lost in the region above the root of the pectoral. 



In adults the side and top of the head below and in front of the dark oblique 

 eye-line is usually lighter than the back. 



There is commonly a light gray, or whitish, mark under the eye, especially on 

 the right side, and sometimes a similar mark around the risrht ear. 



HAIRS. 



In the Newfoundland Finbacks, at the tip of the mandible and following the 

 line of the symphysis on each side, are two rows of thick but soft whitish bristle-like 

 hairs, about ^ in. long. Thei-e are about fifteen haii's in each row. In a male fcetus 

 6 ft. 5 in. long thei-e were nine hairs on the right side of the lower jaw, in a row 

 running oblicpiely downward and backwaixl and terminating above the tenth right 

 furrow. On the right upper jaw were twelve hairs, beginning about six inches from 

 the top of the jaw and iri'egularly disposed. Around tlie root of each haii- was a 

 light-colored ring. 



DORSAL ITN. 



The dorsal fin in the Newfoundland Finbacks showed a considei'able variation 

 in size, as in European specimens. The following are the actual vertical heights 

 in various Newfoundland specimens : 



The doi-sal fin in these Finbacks is subject to a considerable variation in form, 

 being normally falcate, but with tlie tip sometimes longer and moi-e acute, and 

 sometimes shorter and more rounded; the posterior margin in some individuals 

 moderately concave, in others strongly concave. (See text figs. 1-7 and pi. 11, fig. 

 5.) The variation is, however, less marked and stiiking than is found in the 

 Sulphurbottoms. The normal shape of tlie dorsal in European specimens of B. 

 physalus is well shown in Sars's figure of his Lofoten Ids. specimen (77, pi. 2, fig. 

 5). In color the dorsal fin agrees with the dark gray of the adjacent part of the 

 back. In one instance (No. 2, Snook's Arm) there was an irregular, pure-white 

 blotch close to the tip of the fin, on the right side. 



