32 BULLETIN 73, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Zealand species, and afterwards whether the North Pacific species is identical with 

 or distinct from these. 



The published measurements of specimens from the coasts of Europe and New 

 Zealand, currently believed to represent the single species Z. cavirostris, are rather 

 meager, and, furthermore, prove, on examination, to present so little uniformity 

 that they are of limited use for comparison with measurements of skulls from the 

 Atlantic coast of the United States. About all that can be said is that the latter 

 skulls are of about the same size as the former and that the proportions do not pre- 

 sent any striking differences. For detailed measurements of the American skulls, 

 see page 53. 



On account of the uncertainty as regards the measurements, I have had recourse 

 to the published descriptions and figures, especially those of Van Bencdcn, Sir 

 William Turner, and Doctor Haast. So far as I can perceive, there is nothing in 

 these descriptions that is not applicable to the skulls Nos. 49599 and 20971, fi'om 

 Newport, Rhode Island, and Barnegat City, New Jersey, respectively, in the National 

 Museum, and I can find no reason for i-egarding tlie latter other than as representa- 

 tives of Z. cavirostris. * 



HISTORY OF THE NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, SPECIMEN. 



Of the Newport specimen, No. 49599, the Museum has the complete skeleton, 

 together with external measurements and a photograph. From data at hand it 

 appears that the animal was originally obtained in Narragansett Bay about October 

 30, 1901, and afterwards towed to Fort Adams, near Newport. A few days later it 

 was sent adrift again and stranded in the harbor of Dutch Island, near Canonicut 

 Island, which is opposite Newport. While at Fort Adams its existence was made 

 known to the Museum by Dr. E. A. Mearns, U. S. Army, and his son, Louis Mearns; 

 and a preparator was sent to obtain the skeleton. With the aid of Captain Soder- 

 man, of the government tug Monroe, he found it at Dutch Island, and reported that 

 it was a male, 20 feet 1 inch in length, measured along the curves of the back (18 

 feet 6 inches in a straight line). The epidermis was nearly all lacking, but the back 

 appeared to have been black. The length in a straight line, as reported by Mr. Louis 

 Mearns, was 19 feet. The complete measurements taken by the preparator, Mr. J, 

 W. Scollick, are as follows: 



External dimensions of Zipkius cuvirostris, male, Cat. No. 49599, U.S.N.M.^ Newport, Rhode Island. 



Fi. in. 



Total length, along curve of back 20 1 



Total length, in straight line 18 6 



Tip of snout to posterior margin of dorsal fin 13 10 



Tip of snout to axilla 5 2 



Tip of snout to eye 2 5J 



Tip of snout to anterior margin of lilowhole 2 4 



Length of mouth 1 1 



Breadth of blowhole 5 J 



Length of pectoral fin, from head of humerus to tip, straight 2 2 



Vertical height of dorsal fin 10 



Breadth of flukes, from tip to tip 5 3 



Greatest girth (estimated) 10 



