THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



239 



The phalanges are incomplete in the type of M. osphyia. They are arranged 

 on each pectoral in three series, or digits, each digit having 3 phalanges, exclusive 

 of the metacai'pals. Each limb, therefoie, has but 9 phalanges in all, showing 

 that many are lacking. Some of the pieces mounted as metacarpals are probably 

 phalanges. 



The number of phalanges in the type of M. hellicosa is not given by Cope, and 

 I was unable to find any considerable number of these bones, when examining the 

 skeleton in the Philadelphia museum. Cope remarks that "the fore limbs are 

 neither of them quite complete." (^5.) 



In the immature skeleton in the National Museum from Pi-ovincetown, Mass., 

 (No. 16252 ?) the formula for the left side is 2, 6, 6, 2} In No. 21492, U. S. 

 N. M., also from Cape Cod, Mass., the formula is 2, 7, 6, 1, as now mounted. 



From the emarginations and tubercles on the anterior border of the pectorals 

 in the Newfoundland specimens (pis. 37-40), both adult and foetal, and in the 



Fig. 79 



Fig. So. 



Fig. 8i. 



Fig. 82 



Fig. 83. 



MEQAPTEBA NODOSA (bONNATERKe). ASIEBICAN AND EUROPEAN. STERNUM. 



Fig. 79.— St. Bartholomew Id., West Indies. (From Malm.) Fig. 8o.— <From Van Beneden. Local- 

 ity NOT GIVEN.) Fig. 81.— Tay River, Scotland, i. (From Struthers.) Fig. 82.— Antilles. (From 

 Fischer.) Fig. S3.— Type of Af. longima.va. (From Pander and d' Alton.) 



Cape Cod (Mass.) specimen (pi. 41, fig. 6), it is certain that the same number of 

 phalanges may be counted for digit 2 in these specimens as in the Greenland 

 Humpback and the European species, and for digit 3 the variation can hardly 

 be more than one phalanx, with a probability that there is no difference. 



■ On the right side, the formula is actually 2, 5, 5, 2, but one phalanx has obviously been 

 lost from digits 3 and 4, as the irons supirorling the bones project a considerable distance beyond 

 the last phalanges now in position. Mr. F. A. Lucas has kindly given the formula for the fresh 

 specimen, as recorded by him at the time it originally passed through his hands. It is the same 

 as above, viz., 2, 6, 6, 2. 



