THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



161 



Soph us Hallas's excellent table of measurements of six Sulphurbottoms taken 

 at Iceland in 1867 (6(T) affords means of comparing the Newfoundland and Nor- 

 wegian specimens with Icelandic ones. His measurements reduced to percentages 

 are given in the preceding table. 



The averages for these six Iceland specimens and for the ten Newfoundland 

 males, are as follows : 



BALMNOPTERA MUSCULUS (L.). ICELAND AND NEWFOUNDLAND. 



The agreement of the Iceland and Newfoundland specimens in many propor- 

 tions is very close. The principal discrepancies are in the distance from the notch 

 of the flukes to the anus, in the height of the dorsal fin, and in the breadth of the 

 flukes. The first measurement was made on only one Iceland specimen. As to the 

 second the height of the dorsal, it can only be said that the individual measure- 

 ments and the average are within the limits of variation of the Newfoundland speci- 

 mens in this particular. Still it would rather be expected that one of the three 

 Iceland specimens measured by Hallas would have had a higher dorsal, if there is 

 no constant difference between Iceland and Newfoundland Sulphurbottoms. Of 

 the discrepancy in the breadth of the flukes little can be said, as the measurements 

 are so few, and in the Newfoundland specimens so uncertain. 



COLOR. 



The best description of the color of European B. muscrulus with which I am 

 acquainted is that given by Sars in 1874 (75, 233; 9, sep.), after he had seen ten 

 specimens of the species at Foyn's whaling station in Finmark. It is as follows : 



" In all the examples observed by me the whole body, as well on the back as 

 on the belly, was of a uniform blue-gray or slate-gray color, somewhat darker on 

 the head and breast, and lightest along the sides, where there is found a quite fine 

 and peculiar mottling of darker and lighter shades. The whole ground color of the 

 whale, seen at a distance, has very distinctly a bluish cast, and that in a more 



' To anterior base ? ' To posterior base, or axilla. 



3 Points of measurement not stated. 



