136 THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 
For the Borselaer skeleton (1869) Van Beneden gives 14 pairs of ribs, but as 
the last pair is as long as the preceding one probably another should be counted, so 
that the formula would stand 7, 15, 14, 25 = 61. For the same reason one dorsal 
should be added in the case of the St. Vigor skeleton (1847), so that the formula 
would be 7, 15, 15, 25 = 62, and in the case of Menge’s Danzig skeleton (1874), 
making the formula 7, 15, 14, 24 = 60. 
Some of the American specimens appear to require modification in the same 
manner. 
The Cape Cod skeleton, No. 16045, as mounted, has 14 pairs of ribs and 15 
lumbar vertebree. The 14th pair of ribs, however, is aslongas the 13th pair, and 
hence it is very probable that an additional pair, or 15 in all, should be counted. 
The inferior carina of the vertebra immediately in front of the one to which 
the first chevron is attached is divided posteriorly, and it is probable that another 
chevron was originally attached there. The first chevron in position is large. 
Such being the case, and considering the statement just made regarding the ribs, 
the number of Jumbar vertebree would be reduced to 13. The formula would then 
be 7,15, 18,28 + =58 +. This formula appears exceptional in B. physalus unless 
such European authorities as Flower, Delage, Fischer, ete., have been mistaken. It 
will be noted, however, that Flower (45, 414) proposes 13 lumbars for the Vlie- 
land Id. skeleton. 
The formula given by Dwight (35, 212) for the Gloucester (Mass.) skeleton is 
7, 15, 15, 26 = 63. He states, however, that the inferior carina of the 15th 
lumbar is bifurcated posteriorly, and hence it is possible that it belongs to the 
caudal series. His measurements show that the 15th pair of ribs is as long as the 
preceding ones, and it may be that a 16th “ floating” pair originally existed. In 
case these conditions existed, the formula would be 7, 16, 13, 27 = 63. 
In the skeleton in the State Museum, Albany, N. Y., the 13th rib is 5 ft. 7 in. 
long, while the 14th and last rib is 5 ft. 2 in. long. It thus appears that at 
least one additional pair of ribs was probably present originally. 
The first and second chevron bones in position are alike in size, from which it 
may be inferred that a smaller anterior one is missing. If these inferences are correct 
the vertebral formula for the skeleton would be 7, 15, 14, 26 = 62. 
In the skeleton in the Museum of Comparative Zoédlogy, Cambridge, Mass., 
the 15th pair of ribs is as long as the 14th pair, so that it is quite likely there was 
originally a 16th pair. As to the chevrons, the first in position is only about one 
fourth the size of the second, showing that no more are to be allowed for in that 
direction. With the modification indicated, the formula for this skeleton would be 
7, 16, 14, 26 = 63. 
The Newfoundland feetus which I carefully dissected had 16 pairs of ribs. 
This number was also found by Struthers in the Peterhead specimen (Journ. Anat. 
and Phys., 1871, p. 116). This 16th rib on the right side was 30 in. long, on the 
left side, 22 in.. The 15th pair of ribs was 72 in. long. Flower states that in the 
Margate skeleton the 15th pair of ribs was nearly as long as the 14th, so that 
there may have been a 16th pair in this skeleton also. (P. Z S., 1869, p. 608.) 
