ANATOMY OF MEGAPTERA LONGIMANA. 



125 



Van Beiieden and Gervais remai'k {Osteographie des Cetaces, 

 p. 132), " C'est dans la region cervicale surtout que se trouvent les 

 differences qui separent le keporkak de la Megaptera Lalandii." The 

 differences which they go on to note between these two supposed 

 different species, Megaptera longimana and Lalandii, are, so far as I 

 can judge, not greater than those seen in the four series of the cer- 

 vical vertebrae of B. muse ul us above referred to.] 



The Ribs. 



The following table (Table VI.) shows the proportions of the 

 ribs in comparison with those of the 50-feet-long B. museulus : — 



34. Table VI. — Measvbrertie.nts of the Ribs of Megaptera longi- 

 imiana and of the 50-feet-long B. museulus, given in 

 inches. 



35. General and Differential Characters. — Length. — 

 All the ribs of the Megaptera are shorter than those of the 

 B. museulus except the two first. The greater length of 

 especially the first in Megaptera is considerable. The lengths 

 taken along the outer border are, of the first rib, Megaptera 48 

 inches, B. museulus 44| ; of the second rib, Megaptera 65 

 inches, B. museulus 60. The longest rib in both is the 6th. 



^ From top of tubercle to farthest part of lower end. 

 - From top of angle to top of tubercle. 



^ Transversely, from innermost point to opposite the top of the tubercle. 

 * The weight of the 6th rib is in Megaptera 228 ounces, in the B. museulus 

 148 ounces. 



