50 MEGAPTERID.E. 



Family 3. MEGAPTERID-ffi. Humpbacked Whales. 



Megapterina, Gray, I. c. p. 113. 



Megapteridae, Gray, Synops. liliales 8f Dolph. p. 2. 



Dorsal fin low, broad ; pectoral fin very long, with four very long 

 fingers of many phalanges. Vertebrae 50 or 60 ; cervical vertebrae 

 often anchylosed. Lateral process of the axis tardily ossified. Neu- 

 ral canal large, high, triangular. Ribs 14 or 15. 



1. MEGAPTERA. 



Megaptera, Gray, I. c. pp. 113, 117; Synops. Whales Sf Dolph. p. 2; 

 Lilljehory, N. Acta Upsal. 1867, vi. 



Bladebone without acromion or coracoid process. Body of cer- 

 vical vertebrae snbcircular. 



1. Megaptera longimana. B.M. 



Megaptera longimana, Gray, I. c. pp. 119 (fig.), 373 ; Synops. WTiales 



Sf Dolph. p. 2. 

 Megaptera boops, Gray, Synops. Whales $■ Dolph. tab. 30 (baleen and 



jaws with rudimentary teeth), t. 33. f. 12 (vertebra). 



Inhab. North Sea. 



2. Megaptera Novae-Zelandiae. B.M. 



Megaptera Novae-Zelandiae, Gray, I. c. p. 128, fig. 20 ; Synops. Whales 

 Sf Dolph. p. 2. 



Inhab. New Zealand. Ear-bones in Brit. Mus. 



3. Megaptera ? Burmeisteri. 



Megaptera ? Burmeisteri, Gray, Cat. Seals Sf Whales, p. 129. 

 Megaptera Lalandii (part.), Van Beneden, Osteoyr. Cet. 



Inhab. Buenos Ayres. Skeleton, Mus. Buenos Ayres. 



4. Megaptera americana. 



Megaptera americana, Gray, Cat. Seals Sf Whales, p. 129. 



Inhab. Bermuda. 



" The norwega is a Humpback which has the belly white and 

 smooth (?), back very dark bluish, length 50 to 55 feet. This whale 

 gives more oil than the mystica." — Hartt, Geology Sf Physical Geo- 

 graphy of Brazil, p. 182. 



" The whalebone is short, and sells well. The beach on which the 

 whales are cut up is strewed during the season with bones. There 

 must be the bones of 500 whales on the spot. The fishery is carried 

 on at Bahia on a much larger scale than at Caravellas." — L. c. p. 185. 



5. Megaptera kuzira. 

 Megaptera kuzira, Gray, Cat. Seals Sf Whales, p. 130. 

 Inhab. Japan. Skull, Mus. Leyden. 



