THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



195 



The most notable discrepancy between the Portland specimen and those from 

 the European coasts is, perhaps, that the distance from the snout to the posterior 

 margin of the dorsal fin in the former is but 66.9 % of the total length, while 

 with one exception this distance exceeds *IQfo in the European specimens. It is 

 true that this distance for the Drogheda, Ireland, specimen, computed from the 

 measurements given by Carte and Macalister (14), is but 68.9$ of the total length, 

 but too much reliance cannot be placed on the measurements of this specimen. 

 That for the flukes is obviously inaccurate. 1 



All that can be learned from the foregoing table is that the proportions of the 

 European and American specimens show an approximate agreement. 8 



The photographs of the specimen from Quoddy Head, Maine, reproduced in 

 plate 28, figs. 3 and 4, show in an admirable manner the stout body, prominent 

 caudal ridges, sharp head, and strongly curved dorsal fin characteristic of JB. acuto- 

 rostrata. They show also that the center of the pectoral fin above and the center 



1 It is also to be observed that their figure of the exterior, stated to be " made to the scale of 

 i inch to the foot," is not on that scale, and does not agree in proportions with their measurements. 

 They were aware, however, of the discrepancies in the position of the dorsal fin as given by earlier 

 authors. 



' Since the foregoing paragraphs were written, I have received from Mr. J. Henry Blake of 

 Cambridge, Mass., some valuable notes on Cetacea observed on the New England coast, including 

 measurements of a young whale of the present species. These measurements, together with per- 

 centages of the total length of such as are comparable with those of the foregoing table, are as 

 follows : 



Blowholes situated 2 in. in front of a perpendicular line from the eye. 

 Ear situated just above a line drawn from the eye to the pectoral fin. 

 Number of abdominal folds, 50. 

 Baleen pure white, 7 in. long. 



