134 THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 
NUMBER OF VERTEBR. 
Various European authors have recorded the number of vertebra in specimens 
of B. physalus. These specimens were frequently not absolutely complete, and as 
there is some individual variation, the formulz of different observers show a certain 
lack of conformity. This affects particularly the caudal vertebra, the most poste- 
rior of which are generally lacking in specimens preserved in museums. In the 
following table a number of records are brought together for comparison in the 
original form, and on p. 137 the several vertebral formule are modified in accord- 
ance with various indications which are discussed on a subsequent page. 
BALAGNOPTERA PHYSALUS (L.). 
EUROPEAN. VERTEBRAL FORMULA. 
Author. Locality. Date. C. 1D). L. Ca. Total 
Flower Viieland Id. 1851 7 TAl 14 OF 15” 23 OF 24 60° 
‘ Katwijk 1841 7 15 14 24 60 
Falmouth 1863 7 vile 14° 25 61° 
Flower and Gray Isle of Wight 1842 | 7 14' 15 3+ *} 54+ 
Van Beneden Borselaer 1869 7 14 15 25 61 
Lilljeborg (Bergen Museum) | (1862) | 7 15 15 25 62 
Heddle Laman Id. 1856 7 15 — = 62 
Struthers Nairn 1884 | 7 15 15 25 62 
Delage Langrune 1885 | 7 14 15 26° 62 
Fischer St. Vigor 1847 7 Ale 16 25 62 
ee St. Cyprien 1828 | 7 14 15 24" 60 
Menge Danzig 1874 7 ish 15 24 60 
+“Tt is most probable that the 15th pair has been lost.” 
2“ According to Van Beneden, fourteen or fifteen lumbar, though the place of attachment of 
the first chevron bone in the skeleton indicates but thirteen as belonging to this series.” 
=“ The number of vertebrz is 61, the last being modelled in wood; but from the character of 
the 6oth I should say that there ought to be 2 below it.” 
(Flower, P. Z. S., 1864, p. 415.) 
(Flower, P. Z. S., 1864, p. 414.) 
*“The last pair was quite rudimentary and, unconnected with the spinal column.” 
PZ SOOO MD: 
609.) 
*“ The chevron bones appear to be all present. 
608.) 
There are 18.” 
(Flower.) 
(Flower, 
(Flower, P. Z. S., 1869, p. 
°“There are 61 vertebra; but the last is elongated and constricted in the middle, as if it 
really consisted of 
2 united.” 
(Flower, Z. c.) 
7“ The last well developed. There may have been a 15th pair.” 
(Flower, 2. ¢., p. 610.) 
®“ Caudal vertebre 18, exclusive of those contained in the fin of the tail, which is preserved 
entire.” 
(Gray, Zool. Erebus and Terror, p. 5°.) 
°“ At the end of the 25th was found a little conical cartilage. 
represent a 26th caudal.” 
‘0 “The last rib is more elongated than the preceding ribs.” 
“Tt is probable that the last caudals were lost during dissection.” 
(Delage.) 
It seems to me to 
(Fischer, Cé¢. S. O. France, p. 75.) 
(Zbid., p. 79.) 
The r4th pair of ribs, as shown by the photograph, was as long as the preceding pair, 
