THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 115 
BALAENOPTERA PHYSALUS (L.). AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN. 
Averiecforall| Average Average Average for| Average for |Maximum) Maximum] Mini- Mini- 
speeuens of for al for al mature mature for for mum for; mum for 
oth sexes. females. males. females, males,* females.® males, females.| males. 
Locality. | 
- | : = 
No. | Length. |No.| Length. | No.} Length, | No.|Length.|‘No.} Length. | Length. Length. | Length.) Length. 
| = | 
Newfoundland : 
Snook’s Arm, 1899.| 25/60’ 102”) 15) 62’ 34" | 10) 58’ 77%" | 13 |63' r0"| 7] 60’ 5” 70' 8" 65'-0" 50 7" | 53/9" 
Balena, Ig00. ila) 0 allonelleseonae OTAWS St ates [circ as yea | mevetets retcty||Peezeret ctor Cate — eileen 44’ - 
me Igol. nie) Fa llobelloneacec Sieval eae auch [Dorascvaneta -.| +++. « |(64', sex unknown) |(48’,sex unk’n) 
All the foregoing New- 
foundland specimens. | 51|59' Iqiy"|.--|.-.---- aval Wares alle soeeee Belereece 70' 8" 65.0" | 50°7"| 4q’— 
Norway (Cocks). 186|63' 53” |105| 64’ 14"| 81] 62’ 7” | 25 |65' 11"| 74] 66’ 7 80' 6" Gea a 41 2" | 43/0 
Europe generally 
(stranded, or captured 
on the coasts). 53°|57' 5afp | 147157’ LIg4y"| 17°| 62' 6y4,"| 8 66’ 82"| 14 | 65’ 958," |72' 1,9,"983' 1158,"4...---]...... 
(22 m.) (25.6 m.) 
It appears from this table that both the maximum and the average total length 
of mature individuals of both sexes from Newfoundland waters are considerably less 
than for European specimens. The close approximation of the averages for mature 
individuals of both sexes, based on Cocks’s observations at the Norwegian fisheries, 
with those for the various specimens stranded or captured at other points on the 
European coast is of much interest. Further, the table shows, as might be antici- 
pated, that averages which include many immature individuals are very unreliable. 
The reason why the average for female European specimens of all ages is so much 
below that for the males is simply that the collected records on which the averages 
are based include many more immature females than males. 
PROPORTIONS. 
In comparing proportions it is desirable, in order to avoid misinterpretation, to 
select measurements which different observers are likely to take from the same 
points and in the same manner. The following are among the best: Total length," 
tip of snout to eye, ditto to posterior margin of dorsal fin, breadth of flukes from 
tip to tip, notch of flukes to anus, ditfo to navel. Such measurements as “length 
of base of dorsal fin” are of little value, as the fin rises from the back in a very 
gradual curve, and it is impossible to fix on any point of origin. Even the meas- 
urement of the length of the pectoral fin, though so important, is uncertain. It 
may be taken from either the anterior or the posterior insertion (both points of in- 
definite location) or from the head of the humerus. ‘The latter is alone satisfactory. 
In measuring a considerable number of whales it will be found impossible to 
follow any system rigorously or completely, as the different individuals cannot be 
turned about and handled at will, as in the case of small animals. In the follow- 
ing table a large variety of measurements is included, many of which are taken from 
but a single specimen. From this series will be selected such as are suitable for 
comparison with measurements of Huropean specimens : 
1 Specimens 55’ 7” long and over. ? Everything below 41’ 8” thrown out to agree with other general averages. 
3 Monte Rosso, Italy, Oct., 1878. 4St. Cyprien, France, Nov. 27, 1828. 
5 A specimen stranded in 1879 at Soulac in an advanced state of decomposition, and variously estimated as 27 m., 
24 m., and 85 or go ft. long, is cited by Fischer (Cé. S. O. France, 1881, p. 70) as belonging to this species. Also one at 
Dunquerque, 1863, 30 m. long, and the Ostend specimen, more than 30 m, long. The latter is certainly B. mzsculus, 
and Van Beneden is doubtless correct in including the others also under that species. eSeesparde 
