5. PHTSALUS. 161 



" The form of the head is much like that of Kaviu's figure of the 

 skull of P. cmtiquorum. It is 10 feet 10 iuches long, 4 feet 8 inches 

 wide at the orbits, and 2 feet 9 inches wide at the base of the beak. 

 The lower jaw is 9 feet 8 inches long without allowing for the 

 curves." — It. Harrison. 



Finner Whales that have been only im.perfectly noticed. 



1. Physalus ? australis. The Southern Finner. 



I5iila3iia Quoyii, Fischer, Syn. 526. 



Bal;ena rostrata australis, Desmoulins, Diet. Class. H. N. ii. 166. 



Bakenoptera australis, Gray, Zool. E. Sf T. 61. 



Balfenoptera australis, Southern Rorqual or Finback, Nunn. Narrat. 



Favourite, 183, tig. 

 Phj'salus ? australis, Gray, Cat. Cetac. B. M. 1850, 44. 



Inhab. Falkland Islands {Qaoy). 



Desmoulins (Diet. Class. H. X. ii. 164), under the name of Balcena 

 rostrata australis, describes a whale seen by M. Q,uoy on the shores 

 of the Falkland Islands, which he says was exactly like B. Physalus. 

 It was 55 feet long, and the pectoral tin 6 feet 3 inches — that is, 

 about one-eighth of the entire length, the same as in Balcenoptera 

 Physalus ; biit he says the dorsal tin was over the male organ — a 

 character which, as far as I know, is peculiar to the Humpback 

 Whale {Megaptera) — thus presenting a combination of characters 

 which, if correct, will not only prove it to be a distinct species, but 

 one forming a section by itself. 



Lesson (Tab. Regne Anim. i. 202) gives the name oi Balcenoptei a 

 australis to the " Fin-back of the whalers of the South Sea." It is 

 most probably intended for this species, as Falkland Islands is given 

 for the habitat ; but it may be Megaptera PoesTcop, or perhaps a 

 confusion of the two. 



" The Fin-backed Whale of Desolation, near Kerguelen's Land, is 

 about 30 feet long. The whalebone short. The dorsal tin is arched 

 backwards, nearly over the pectoral, or, some tishcrmen say, a little 

 behind the middle of the back. The upper surface is black, Hghter 

 beneath. The spout is single, much higher than that of the Right 

 Whale (Baloina) in the same latitude." — Nunn''s Narrative. The 

 tigures, after the drawings of the whalers, represent the body only 

 as rather more than three times the length of the head. 



" From the description I have received of the Fin-tish (Balceno- 

 ptera Rorqual), which often appears in the bays of both the western 

 and eastern coasts of Africa, I feel disposed to regard it as the 

 Rorqual. It may, however, prove to be a difterent species when 

 those who can note its characters shall have an opportunity of ex- 

 amining a dead specimen. It is here rarely attacked by the fishers, 

 being considered dangcroiis, and of little value from its yielding but 

 a small proportion of oil. About twelve years ago one was killed 

 in Table Bay which measured 95 feet." — A. Smith, African Quart. 

 Jonl■n.^?>(K^ 



