234 



THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



Humpback, but it is more likely that the figure is incorrect, as the nasals are made 

 to end against the inferior margins of the premaxillse, which are inclined outward, 

 so as to leave a much wider space between the superior margins. The distance be- 

 tween the superior margins is about 7 %, which is a very close approximation to the 

 breadth of the nasals in other specimens. The inclined position of the premaxillae 

 in this figure causes the narial space to appear much shorter than in skulls I have 

 examined. Another peculiarity of the figure is the very strong emargination of 

 the orbital processes of the frontal anteriorly, and their emargination posterioi'ly 

 also. This peculiarity may likewise be a characteiistic of the Greenland Hump- 

 back, but may, on the other hand, be merely an inaccuracy in the figure. In the 

 absence of any other figure of the upper surface of the skull of a Gi'eenland Hump- 

 back it is difiicult to decide the points at issue. 



VERTEBRA. 



The proportions of the vertebrae in the Tay River whale, and of some Amer- 

 ican specimens, including the type of M. osphyia, ai-e given in the following table : 



MEOAPTERA NODOSA (BONNATERKE). EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN. SKELETON. 



' Rheinland measure. 

 ' From figure. 

 ° With epiphyses =28.8 fo. 

 * " " =24.0 " 



' With epiphyses = 25.5 ^. 

 ' Posterior. 



' With epiphyses = 28.8 ^. 

 " " " = 24.1 " 



'With epiphyses = 29.7 ^. 

 ■» " " = 25.5 " 



" Swedish; i ft. = 297 mm. 



