112 



THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



time, and when they had removed it and the whalebone, slid the carcass into the 

 water again at once. In spite of these circumstances, I was able to make valuable 

 observations on the external characters of the species and on individual variation. 

 The skeletons, however, were not available for study. 



As the result of my observations of this Finback, I ascertained the following 

 general facts : 



(1) That the individuals captured varied considerably in size. 



(2) That both sexes were obtained, and that the females predominated. 



(3) That the females were in different stages and conditions as regards 

 gestation. 



(4) That the color of the body was subject to considerable variation in differ- 

 ent individuals. 



(5) That the coloration of the two sides of the body was asymmetrical, as in 

 B. phy solus. 



(6) That some individuals had a large amount of food in the stomach, while 

 others had little, or none. 



SIZE. 



The total length and the sex of the several individuals examined are shown in 

 the following table : 



BALJENOPTERA PHYSALUS (L.). SNOOK'S ARM, NEWFOUNDLAND. 



