EXTERNAL CHARACTERS OF FIN WHALES 



357 



Here again very similar results appear for the different sexes and localities. The two 

 males from South Georgia with less than 80 white plates are rather aberrant, but need 

 not be regarded as of any particular significance as the number of whales in which 

 these white plates were counted is not very great. 



Only seven measurements were made of the width of the baleen of Fin whales. 

 These were as follows : 



Those marked with an asterisk are South African whales. Here again there are not 

 sufficient data for a valid comparison to be made, but there is no suggestion of any 

 difference between the sexes or the two localities. 



Measurements of the spacing of the longest baleen plates also give negative results. 

 The distance separating them varies from about i-ocm. in 14 m. whales to about 

 1-8 cm. in 23 m. whales, the increase varying uniformly with the length of the whale. 

 The readings are plotted in Fig. 97 from which it will be seen that no special distinction 

 exists between males and females, or between whales of South Georgia and South 

 Africa. 



