156 



THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



BAL^NOPTERA MUSCULVS (L.). AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN. 



The foregoing table shows that the average and the maximum length for both 

 sexes is less in the Newfoundland specimens than for those captured on the Nor- 

 wegian coast, a result similar to that obtained in the case of B. pJiysalus. The 

 measurements taken at the Newfoundland station other than my own cannot be 

 considered accurate, though they are perhaps as accurate as those taken at the Nor- 

 wegian stations. They both doubtless represent the largest possible measurements 

 in the majority of cases, while mine are for the distance from the end of the upper 

 jaw to the notch of the flukes. My measurements between June 19 and 28, 1901, 

 average about thirteen inches less than those taken by the Newfoundland whalers 

 from the same specimens. Even allowing for this circumstance, however, there is 

 no doubt that larger whales are taken at the Newfoundland station earlier in the 

 year than the time of my visit, and these are, or at least appear to be, smaller than 

 those taken in former years at the Norwegian stations. 



PROPORTIONS. 



It will be observed that in Sars's diagnosis of B. musculus, quoted on p. 149, it 

 is stated that the pectoral fin is " generally not more than \ the total length," and 

 that the dorsal fin is extremely small and lies far back "at the beginning of the 

 last fourth of the length of the body." During my sojourn at Balena station, 

 Newfoundland, I made systematic measurements of specimens of Sulphurbottoms. 

 Unfortunately, there is no body of measurements of European specimens with 

 which these can be compared. Of only five or six adults have we any measure- 

 ments beyond the total length, and these for the most part unsuitable for com- 

 parison. Such as they are, however, I have endeavored to use them in comparison 

 with those in the following table : 



1 Specimens 72 feet and over. 



