196 



in tbe Latnan and Copinshay whale, they /all soinewhat thus : — 



In fact, in some points our Orkney whales seem to connect the cha- 

 racters of the two sections of your genus PhysaJus, resembling, how- 

 ever, P. hoaps more than P. antiąuorum. In my poor opinion, 

 nevertheless, there are amply sufficient characters for separation, and 

 I feel that, wlien placed side by side, the two specimens I have been 

 so fortunate as to put into your hands will help much to clear up this 

 cetacean mystery, as well as to show what characters are permanent 

 and worthy of selection. 



I have some platės of whalebone, which you shall have by and by. 

 It varies sHghtly in shape and colour from that of the Laman whale, 

 and indeed there is danger, / think, in forming a specific character 

 from the baleen. 



The colours on the whale were, according to the description of the 

 finders, identical with those of the Laman whale ; the under jaw a 

 little wider. I shall make a sketch of the form from the measure- 

 ments, and trausmit it to you. 



ft. in. 



Tip of under jaw to notch in tail . . 45 6 



Tip of upper jaw to eye 8 2 



„ „ to anterior of pectoral 15 O 



Tip of lower jaw to genital (penis) 28 O 



„ „ to anus .c 31 5 



From pectoral to pectoral under belly 8 O 



Length of pectoral to anterior junction 4 6 



Breadth of pectoral 1 O 



Length of pectoral (tip to head of humerus) .... 5 6 



Width of tail 9 6 



Length of cranium (as nearly as possible) 10 4 



" Back black ; belly white." 



The description of the cervical vertebrse would form a useful 

 appendix to that of the Laman whale. The measurements may be 

 meantime useful, as shovving the similarity of proportion. I feel 

 convinced that the two iudividuals belong to one species, and hope 

 that the neck vertebrae will bear out that opinion. I shall be 

 delighted to hear j'our wishes in the matter, and to carry them out. 



Sept. 24, 1856. 



I propose despatching and booking by first packet the cervical 



vertebrae, &c. of the Copinshay vvhale. I am on the point of start- 



iug for Canada, and I trust they will reach you safe. They are in 



capital condition and keepiug, and will, I am sure, give you assistance 



