148 BALiENOPTERID^. 



18 inches wide and 141 inches h)ng. The transverse apophyses are 

 as broad as the body of tlio vertebra, and the latter is oblong, half 

 as "broad again as high. The lateral processes of the cervical ver- 

 tebrae are much longer than the width of the body of the vertebra; ; 

 the lateral process of the second cervical has a small, nearly central 

 perforation, and this perforation gradually becomes larger on each 

 succeeding vertebra, until it nearly occupies the whole disk of the 

 lateral process in the sixth ; the seventh being formed with only a 

 narrow elongated process from the upper edge, the lower process 

 being reduced into the form of a small tubercle. The ribs are 

 simjile. The lumbar vertebra; are tbick and large ; both these cha- 

 racters must render this Finner much more powerful and active in 

 the water than any of its allies. The lower jaw is 17 feet long; 

 the blade-bone 32 inches by 51, The upper arm-bone is 20 inches 

 long by 10| wide ; the lower arm-bone 31 inches long. The chest- 

 bone is 28 inches wide and 18 inches long. The lumbar vertebra? 

 are 1 1 inches long and 14 inches wide ; the first rib 59 inches long 

 and lOg inches wide at the sternal end. 



There is a nearly perfect skeleton of this species (which I some 

 years ago visited in company with Professor Eschricht) exhibited at 

 Black Gang Chine, in the Isle of Wight, which was caught in April 

 1842, near the Needles. When first found, it was dark grey above 

 and whitish beneath. 



The baleen is slate-coloured, with white streaks on the near or 

 inner side ; nearly black and Avith a few darker streaks near the 

 outer or straight side. It was 75 feet long. The skull is 16 feet 

 7 inches long, 5 feet wide at the notch, and the edge of the beaik 

 from the notch is 12 feet long ; the lower jaw 16 feet 9 inches ; the 

 upper arm-bone 2 feet, and the larger forearm-bone 33 inches long. 

 In this skeleton the scapula and the chest-bones are wrongly placed, 

 and the bones of the carpus and finger. The lower processes of 

 the vertebrae, as well as some of the smaller parts of the head, are 

 deficient. There are 7 cervical vertebrae ; the second very broad, 

 with a very large lateral process, on each side pierced with a hole 

 near the body ; and the three following have a ring-like lateral 

 process. There are 14 thoracic vertebra). The ribs are long ; the 

 first simple, shortish and broadish, the rest almost of equal size and 

 length, the last being very nearly as long as the others. The lumbar 

 vertebra; are 15, with considerably thicker bodies than the others. 

 Caudal vertebra) 18, exclusive of those contained in the fin of the 

 tail, which is preserved entire. 



The skeleton at Kosherville is said to be 70 feet long, and was 

 taken in the Hope Reach in 1858 or 1859. The lateral process of 

 the second cervical is large, elongate, produced, obliquely truncated 

 at the upper edge ; the perforation is moderate, not half the length 

 of the process, on a line with the lower edge of the opening. The 

 lateral processes of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cervical vertebra; 

 are narrow, ring-like, thin, with a large central cavity ; the seventh, 

 like the dorsal, has only an upper lateral process. Lower jaw 13 feet 

 long ; paddle 14 feet. 



