THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 189 



found in the case of both B. physalus and Megaptera, the latter hypothesis appears 

 more probable. 



2. In external proportions, so far as may be judged from the limited data 

 available in the case of European specimens, there is a very close correspondence 

 between the Sulphurbottoms of the Eastern and Western North Atlantic, amount- 

 ing to identity. 



3. In coloration no important difference is exhibited. 



4. The whalebone is of the same color in both American and European ^peci- 

 mens and, so far as may be judged, of equal length. ,/ 



5. The lack of records and material precludes a judgment as to osteological 

 characters, though in such matters as the total number of vertebrae and ribs, general 

 shape and size of the individual bones of the skull, shape of the scapula, etc., there 

 is no clear indication of specific differences. Cope's suspicions that the Ocean City, 

 New Jersey, specimen represented a species intermediate between B. physalus and 

 B. musculus are not confirmed. 



Viewing the present evidence as a whole there appears to be no reason for 

 separating the American Sulphurbottom from B. musculus (L.). 



THE REPRESENTATIVE OF B. MUSCULUS (L.) IN GREENLAND WATERS. 



As mentioned on a previous page, Robert Brown and others assert that the 

 Greenlanders recognize two or more species of large Finbacks under the name of 

 Tunnolik. Fabricius (41, 35) identified the Tunnolik with B. physalus (L.) and 

 gave a diagnosis and a few data regarding its habits and utilization. These stand- 

 ing by themselves are insufficient for the determination of the species and of no 

 value in a case where the discrimination of closely allied forms is involved. 



Scoresby (84, 1, p. 481) mentions a "Physalis found dead in Davis' Strait," 

 which was 105 ft. long. Although the length is exaggerated, this specimen is prob- 

 ably to be assigned to B. musculus, as he states that the color was "bluish-black 

 on the back and bluish-gray on the belly." The data he gives are insufficient for 

 a positive identification. 



In 1846 Eschricht (36, 373) published a description and measurements of a 

 female lunnolik stranded at Grodhavn, August 12, 1843, which account he obtained 

 from H. P. C. Moller who examined the specimen. Moller's description contains 

 the following data : 



Body more elongate than iu Balaina mysticetus, Megaptera longimana, or 

 Balcenoptera acuto-rostrata. 



Fore part of body thick and heavy ; hind part slender and thin, much com- 

 pressed. 



Color black throughout, or possibly lighter under the posterior part of the 

 body ; within folds of the skin, e.g., about mammae, or genitals, dark mouse-gray. 



Pectorals white below. 



Upper jaw a foot shorter than the lower. Lower jaw with a rounded terminal 

 protuberance and faint median keel. 



Baleen very short and proportionately very broad. 



