NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM. 161 
This species is the smallest of the genus, seldom exceeding 
25 or 30 feet in length. Hunter’s description, in the Phil. 
Trans. referred to above, was drawn from a specimen 17 feet 
long, taken on the Dogger Bank. The figure which he gives is 
characteristic, but scarcely accurate in the proportion of some of 
the parts. We do not, however, rest our claim to include 
this fine animal in our Catalogue on this instance of its capture 
alone; for, on the 6th February, 1858, a whale was caught off 
the coast of Northumberland near Craster, which we have no 
hesitation in referring to this species. We are indebted to our 
friend, Mr. John Hancock, of Newcastle, not only for the ac- 
curate measurements given below, but still more for the use of 
his excellent drawings made from the animal when fresh. The 
great rarity of the species gives additional value to these data. 
The skull and baleen are now preserved in the Newcastle 
Museum. 
Mr. Hancock’s notes, copied verbatim, are as follows:— 
“ Balenoptera Boops—caught 6th Feb., 1858. Total length 
from snout to posterior border of tail on median line, 16 feet; 
length from snout to anterior border of pectoral fin, 2 ft. 83 in. 
Length from snout to posterior angle of the eyelids, 3 ft. 1 in. 
Base of pectoral fin, 133} in. From snout to anterior margin of 
dorsal fin along dorsal ridge, 10 ft. 5 in. Base of dorsal fin, 12 in. 
Height or length of pectoral fin, 2 ft. 6 in. Breadth across the 
middle, 7} in. Height of dorsal fin, 10 in. Breadth across the 
middle, 4in. Length of caudal fin (tail), 14 in. Width pos- 
teriorly, 4 ft. 34in. Length of ventral surface from end of tail to 
posterior part of anal orifice, 4 ft. 2 in.; to posterior part of 
genital fissure, 5 ft. Length of genital fissure, Jin. Length of 
anal fissure, 43 in. Length of surface on which the plice exist, 
7 ft. 5 in. laterally; on median line, 1 foot less Plice, fifty in 
number, each an inch wide, and flat on the surface. Kye oval, 
2 inches across the long diameter; 13 inches across the short 
diameter; length of lower jaw to immediately below the eye, 
3 feet 7} inches; width between posterior ends of jaw, 2 feet ; 
from the blowhole to the snout, 2 feet Linch; blowhole, 6 inches 
long; number of plates of whalebone on the left side, 334. 
