200 THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 
The description of Van Beneden and Gervais in the Ostéographie (8, 157) 
is not taken into consideration in the foregoing analysis as it is based chiefly on 
a specimen from Greenland, which in the present work is not regarded as neces- 
sarily identical with B. acuto-rostrata, but as the description tallies very closely 
with that of European specimens, it lends strength to the conclusion that the 
Greenland form is not distinct. 
The following notes on the cervical vertebra and other bones of the Massachu- 
setts skeleton (20931, U. S. N. M.) will be of interest : 
The spine of the axis is very thick at the base and divided or almost bifurcated 
in front; posteriorly, projecting out over the top of 3d cervical, to which it is anchy- 
losed on the left side. The real spine of the axis is a thin ridge about 2 in. 
long. 
The diapophyses of the 3d to the 6th cervicals are almost equal in development, 
transverse, and slender; shorter than in the axis or in the 7th cervical. That on 
the right side of the 3d cervical is shortest, but that on the left side is longer than 
in the 4th cervical. 
The diapophysis of the 7th cervical is much longer and thicker and inclines 
strongly forward and also downward below the plane of the end of the parapophysis 
of the 6th cervical. 
The parapophyses of the 8d and 4th cervicals are short and thick, es- 
pecially distally, and nearly transverse, but strongly inclined downward. Those 
of the 5th and 6th cervicals are much longer and thinner, and are strongly 
bent upward and forward. The parapophysis of the 7th cervical is a mere 
tubercle. 
The neural arch of the 3d cervical is open above and anchylosed to the spine 
of the axis on the left side, as already stated. The spines of the 4th and 5th cer- 
vicals are mere rudiments; of the 6th, about a } in. long; and of the 7th, about one 
inch long, conical and equal to the spine of the 1st dorsal. 
The last caudal vertebra is about as large as a pea. It seems probable that 
one is missing between it and the next one anteriorly, which is much larger, but 
such may not be the case. 
The 4th, 5th, and 6th ribs are of the same length (26 in., straight) and are 
the longest of the series. 
As regards the number of vertebrae, the various records are not entirely in 
accord, but such variation as there is rather accentuates the general agreement than 
otherwise. The enumeration of Sir Wm. Turner (92, 63) is probably the most 
accurate, having been made under favorable circumstances, and with the intent of 
correcting previous errors. The majority of museum specimens, however, are not 
absolutely perfect as regards the final caudal vertebrae. The majority of European 
specimens have been found to have 48 vertebra, including 12 lumbars. This is the 
number in the Massachusetts skeleton also, which may, however, possibly lack 
the penultimate caudal. ‘The variations recorded by different observers are as 
follows : 
