16 PROFESSOR STRUTHERS. 



18. Skin and Blubber. — The epidermis on the part of the 

 abdomen, which I had the opportunity of examining carefully, 

 was from ^ to ^ inch thick. The cutis vera, when denuded of 

 epidermis, had the cream colour already noted. The blubber 

 at the fore j)art of the carcase was 4 inches thick, at the back 

 part scarcely 3 inches, gradually diminishing from the middle 

 back to the anal region where it was only 24 inches thick. 



19. Parasites. — When beached at Stonehaven, parasites, 

 seemingly of the usual kind (Diadema) found on Megaptera, 

 were seen, but they were taken away by visitors. I noticed 

 some on the distal part of the pectoral fin (inner surface) and 

 some on the abdominal wall. The marks of the latter remain 

 on the part of the wall which was preserved. One is seen on 

 each side of the mammillary pouch (1| to 2 inches from it) — 

 large oval excavations, 2 J inches by 1| inch ; depth at the middle, 

 one I inch, the other nearly h inch ; the sloping edge of the 

 epidermis is white at some parts ; the cutis vera is smoothly 

 excavated. A third is seen close to one of these ; and about 1 foot 

 forwards, on each side of the prepuce, 2 to 3 inches from the 

 mesial line, three such excavations are present. 



Length of flipper 12 feet 11 inches. This Megaptera was "entirely black on 

 tlie belly, but nearly the whole of the thorax {i.e., chest and throat) was white, 

 the chin being black, with a few white flecks." So experienced an observer as 

 Mr Cocks was not likely to be misled by skin denuded of epidermis. The two 

 last-mentioned whales had been brought into the factory only during the night 

 before. It would seem, therefoi'e, that, while the whole outer surface of the 

 paddle may be black, the black is usually confined to the proximal fourth or 

 less. This will be the part most visible above water, which may account for 

 the impression of those whose observation was confined to the living animal that 

 the outer surface of the paddle is black. The white colour of the under surface 

 of the throat and chest in Nos. (1) and (6) of Mr Cocks' specimens, above noted, 

 is a remarkable variation. My impression is that the mesial part on the under 

 surface of the tail-fin, in my Megaptera, did not partake of the white colour 

 shown by the rest of that surface. 



Captain David Gray, of Peterhead, who has had a very large experience in the 

 Greenland whale fishing, informs me, in regard to irregular white patches, that 

 wounds and scars, such as are caused by ice or rock scratches or fighting, heal 

 white. Also that the natural white increases in extent and degree with age in 

 Mysticetus. 



