124 THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



the left side crosses the median line and runs up on nine ridges on the right side. A 

 feather-like gray line fills up all of the inferior margin of the caudal peduncle from 

 the anus to the flukes, leaving no pure white. The post-anal gray mark runs 

 forward and downward on each side close to the median feather-like line, and 

 almost reaches to the anus. (See pi. 8, fig. 4; pi. 11, fig. 2.) 



MARKINGS ABOUT THE EYE, AURICULAR ORIFICE, AND ROOT OF PECTORAL FIN. 



In B.physalus, while the upper surfaces of the body are practically all of a 

 uniform gray color, the region between the eye and the pectoral fin is varied by 

 markings of different shades of gray, which are very conspicuous in some indi- 

 viduals. These markings are represented in a rather indifferent manner in Sars's 

 figure of his Lofoten Ids. specimen (77 / pi. 1, figs. 1 and 2; pi. 2, fig. 1), and are 

 mentioned by him as follows : " Between the root of the pectoral fin and the corner 

 of the mouth, on each side above, a whitish (not pure white) mark shows itself, 

 which sends out above a number of small stripes, of which the most conspicuous 

 are one passing forward in the direction of the eye, and another backward in the 

 direction of the dorsal fin " (77, 15, sep.). 



In the Newfoundland Finbacks (pi. 11, fig. 1) the most constant and notice- 

 able marking of the region above mentioned is a whitish line which starts at the 

 auricular orifice on the right side, curves strongly upward, then downward, and 

 terminates at or above the anterior insertion of the pectoral fin. On the left side 

 another light line usually starts at the eye, and may run under or through rather 

 than over the ear, and terminate at the insertion of the pectoral. This line is 

 usually much lighter than the surrounding surfaces, and is often bordered with 

 dark gray. This light line in some cases broadens out at the posterior end and 

 merges into a large white area of irregular shape and imperfectly defined borders 

 above the root of the pectoral. This is the area mentioned by Sars. Besides 

 these markings, in some individuals a distinct gray band, darker than the sur- 

 rounding surfaces and about as wide as the eye, starts just above that organ, and 

 running obliquely upward and backward broadens out into a large ill-defined dark 

 gray area on the shoulder. This dark area is itself invaded by a large, V-shaped, 

 double, white marking, producing a very complicated succession of tints in this 

 region. The white or whitish mark above the root of the pectoral sometimes 

 extends backward and involves the basal portion of the fin itself, and may be sepa- 

 rated off from the color of the distal part of the pectoral by a very dark line. 

 (See pi. 10, fig. 3.) 



These various markings are more distinct on the right side than the left, and 

 appear in different combinations, but the light line may almost invariably be 

 detected, and is quite distinct in foetal specimens. In a freshly-obtained foetus, 

 12 ft. 9 in. long, the back was of a beautiful cerulean blue, and a very light line 

 began at the anterior corner of the eye and passed back over the eye (becoming 

 there almost white) and thence backward just above the auricular orifice. Then it 

 curved upward and backward over the root of the pectoral and was lost in the 



