166 THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



They cover the sides thickly as far back as the line of the aims, but grow gradu- 

 ally less and less numerous posteriorly. The white spots of the abdominal ridges 

 extend downward from the base of the pectorals about 18 inches, and run thence to 

 the posterior end of the ridges, and join the larger but less whitish markings of the 

 sides. All the median posterior area of the ridges is practically without spots, and 

 there are very few anterior to the base of the pectorals. There are quite numerous 

 white marks at the sides of and behind the orifice of the penis, and below the anus. 

 A triangular area of whitish spots and lines extends from the eye to the ear, with 

 the apex at the eye. The whole shoulder, to the line of the tip of the pectoral 

 (when laid back), is light and nearly uniform in color, breaking into large oblong 

 spots, showing the darker ground-color between them as they approach the median 

 line of the back. A long light area begins at the median line about opposite 

 the tip of the pectoral and extends obliquely backward over the sides of the 

 body, breaking into spots which extend in small numbers to the base of the flukes. 

 Flukes streaked underneath (and indistinctly above) as in previous specimens, and 

 there are some broad and long marks like scratches. A little white at the tip of 

 the pectorals externally. (See pi. 14, fig. 7.) 



No. 7. Male. June 25, 1901. Total length, 67 feet. This is a dark indi- 

 vidual, but has much white on the abdominal ridges from the base of the pectorals 

 obliquely downward and backward to the navel. The white here is in the form of 

 continuous areas, with small elongated gray spots and dashes overlying them. The 

 whole belly is mottled with lighter and darker shades of gray. The white of the 

 two sides meets in the median line considerably in front of the navel. Both pec- 

 torals irregular at the tip, with dark longitudinal markings ; also a darkish mark 

 along the middle of the underside from the tip half-way to the root. Dorsal fin 

 very white, *. e., with vertical gray and white lines alternating. (See pi. 19, fig. 1.) 



No. 8. Female. June 25, 1901. Total length, 61 feet. A moderately dark 

 individual. Practically no white on the abdominal ridges anterior to the line of 

 the base of the pectorals. Proximal half of anterior margin of pectorals gray, and 

 irregular dark scratches at the tips. (See pi. 19, fig. 2.) 



No. 9. Female. June 26, 1901. Total length, 72 feet. A very white in- 

 dividual, the whitest one seen. All white at the base of the pectorals, and about 

 an equal mixture of white and gray on the abdominal ridges from that point back- 

 ward. The white of the two sets of ridges meets in the median line. Little white 

 on the ridges anterior to the base of the pectorals. The sides of the body from some- 

 - what behind the tips of the pectorals (when laid back) nearly all light gray, with 

 spots and areas of darker gray between. Much of the latter color from the dorsal fin 

 backward along the superior margin of the caudal peduncle, while light blotches 

 more or less clouded and spotted with darker gray extend all over the sides of the 

 peduncle to the insertion of the flukes. A very light gray area on the shoulder and 

 above the ear, extending thence obliquely backward toward the median line. Above 

 the pectorals the back is varied with the gray ground-color and larger light gray 

 spots in about equal amounts. The light-gray markings of the sides have a tend- 

 ency to become whorls. From a distance, this whale seen from the dorsal aspect 



