180 THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



and interspace, the breadth of the ]-ostruni is 28.8 %. It is obvious, therefore, that 

 the rostrum is not acuminate as in B. physahis. 



The second point of agreement between the Ocean City whale and B. pTiysalus 

 pointed out by Cope is in the number of vertebrae and ribs. He gives the follow- 

 ino- formuLi for the vertebrae: C. 7, D. 15, L. 17, Ca. 23 = 62. So far as the total 

 number is concerned, this is the average for B. physalus, but the formula does not 

 correspond with that of any specimen of the species with which I am acquainted. 

 The formula foi' the Ocean City skeleton which I found in 1900 was as follows: C. 

 7, D. 15, L. 14, Ca. 24 + ^ 60 +. It was impossible to decide definitely as to 

 the location of the first chevron, and fifteen lumbars should perhaps be counted, 

 rather than fourteen. So far as it goes, this formula is not more characteristic of 

 B. 2)^>l/scchts than of B. muscvlus, but as the last caudal vertebra found had a trans- 

 verse diameter of Ai^ inches and an antero-posterior diameter of 2f inches, it is 

 probable that as many as four caudals should be added, making the total twenty- 

 eight, a number never found in B. pTiysalus. 



The next point of agreement with B. physalus mentioned by Cope is the pro- 

 portional size of the pectoral fin. According to my measurements of the Ocean 

 City whale, the length of the pectoral from the t\\) to the root, or insertion, was 99 

 inches, while in a specimen of B. physalus 4|- feet longer than the Ocean City whale 

 the same dimension was but 72 inches. 



As regards the position of the dorsal fin, I do not find any exact measurement 

 either in ]\Ir. Ives's table (cited by Cope) or my own. The remark that the "dor- 

 sal fin marks a point about one-fourth the length from the posterior border of the 

 flukes to the end of the muzzle," would apply almost equally as well to B. physa- 

 lus as to^. musculus. Indeed, as will be seen later, the relative position of the fin 

 is so nearly the same in both species that it can scarcely be used as a diagnostic 

 character. 



From the foregoing facts it will be seen that the association of the Ocean City 

 whale with B. physalus does not receive support. On the other hand, the small 

 size of the dorsal fin, and the mottled gray color of the body, the large pectoral 

 fin, and the dark under-surface of the flukes ally it to the Sulphurbottoms of 

 Newfoundland. 



I append the measurements of the Ocean City whale, made by myself, with 

 those of Mr. Ives added. These measurements wei'e made ten years befoi'e those 

 of the Newfoundland specimens, and without reference to any particular system. 

 They are not, therefore, strictly comparable with the latter : 



BAL.^KOPTERA MUSCULUS (L.). OCEAN CITY, N. J., OCTOBER 8, 1891. FEMAXE. 



Total length along the middle of the body from snout to notch of 



flukes 66 ft. 2 in.' 



Length of pectoral in middle line 8 " 3 " ' 



' " To hinder border of the tail," 66 ft. n in. (Ives.) 



■ " From shoulder to the tip," 7 ft. 4 in.; " along the lower margin," 8 ft. 3 in.; " along the 

 upper margin," 6 ft. (Ives.) 



