XII THE CALIFORNIAN WHALE 257 
in the southern form of the genus, which is known as JZ. lalandit. 
The head, it should also be remarked, is studded with large 
tubercles about the size of an orange, which seem to be hyper- 
trophied rudiments of the hairs, which should be present in this 
region of the body. As is the case with other Whales, numerous 
species have been made out of individuals of Megaptera. Captain 
Seammon, who observed many “ gams” or herds of these Whales, 
remarked! that he had extreme difticulty in finding any two 
individuals precisely ahke! The best-known species in any case 
is the northern Jf. Jongimana, which occurs on our own coasts. 
The genus is, ike so many Cetaceans, world-wide in range; and 
it is possible that the difference in the scapula already referred to 
may justify the separation of a southern J/. lalandii (with which 
in that case, perhaps, JZ. capensis and MW. novae zelandiae will be 
synonymous). Quite recently M. Gervais has insisted upon a 
Megaptera indica from the Persian Gulf. Jlegaptera grows to 
a length of 50 to 60 feet. Seventy-five feet have been stated, 
but measurements of Whales have usually to be received with 
caution. 
Rhachianectes, with but one species, &. glaucus, the “ Cali- 
fornian Grey Whale,” is the last genus of the family Balaenop- 
teridae. This Whale is but imperfectly known anatomically ; but 
quite sufficient has been ascertained to show its great divergence 
from Balaenoptera or Megaptera. The dorsal fin is completely. 
absent, and the throat pleats, so characteristic of the typical 
Balaenopteridae, are reduced to two. It has, however, the general 
outline of a Rorqual, with a relatively small head. In osteo- 
logical characters it tends to unite the two families Balaenop- 
teridae and Balaenidae (if they are really necessary subdivisions). 
The skull is on the whole Rorqual-lhke; but its fore-part is 
narrow as in the Greenland Whale, and the premaxillaries are 
pinched up in the middle line so as to be visible from the side ; 
this again is a Balaenid character. The cervical vertebrae are 
free as in Rorquals, and the sternum is quite as in that group. 
The scapula has more the shape of that of Lalaena. 
Rhachianectes glaucus is confined to the Pacific, and has been 
extensively hunted from the shore. It is not, however, a very 
valuable Whale, since the baleen is short as in Rorquals, and the 
1 Marine Mammals of the North-West Coast of North America, 1874. 
2 Cf. Secammon, Joc. cit. 
