THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 

 BALJiNA QLACIALIS MONNATERRE. EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN. SKELETON. 



255 



G;isco lias given figures of many of the veitebne of the Taraiito (Italy) skele- 

 ton (47, \>h. 3, 5, 7, 8), in which the outlines are taken from photographs. These 

 figures I have compai'ed with the Long Island (N. Y.) skeleton in the National 

 Museum, No. 23077, and find a most complete agreement, except in one or two' 

 cases. In the figure of the 4th lumbar of the Taranto skeleton (vertebi'a No. 24) 

 the anterior zygopophysis is much smaller than in the Long Island skeleton, and 

 the posterior margin of the base of the neural arch is much more curved. In the 

 side view of the 1st lumbar of the Taranto whale (vertebra No. 21) the trau.sverse 

 process is represented as having a peculiar shape and direction whicli is not evident 

 in the front view of the same vertebra, and is not found in the Long Island skele- 

 ton. The sixth caudal (vert. No. 39) of the Taranto skeleton is represented as 

 having only a shallow einargination infei-iorly, while in the Long Island and other 

 specimens the einargination is very deep and the anterior and posteiior margins 

 come close together, foreshadowing tlie formation of the foramen which is found in 

 the posterior caudals. There is every probability that this figure is incorrect, or 

 that the vertebra is imperfect below. All the vei'tebrae of the Taranto skeleton 

 are figured without the epiphyses, and hence appear thinner tlian they otherwise 

 would. 



' From figure. 



* 14th dorsal. 



' Probably 2d caudal. 



* Anterior. 



' With pro.ximal epiphysis. 



" Caudals too much spaced. 



' Posterior. 



* From Manigault. 



' Vertebra No. 22. 



'Twice }4- 



