200 THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTEBN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



The description of Van Beneden and Gervais in the Osteographie (5, 157) 

 is not taken into consideration in the foregoing analysis as it is based chiefly on 

 a specimen from Greenland, which in the present work is not regarded as neces- 

 sarily identical with . acuto-rostrata, but as the description tallies very closely 

 with that of European specimens, it lends strength to the conclusion that the 

 Greenland form is not distinct. 



The following notes on the cervical vertebrae and other bones of the Massachu- 

 setts skeleton (20931, U. S. N: M.) will be of interest : 



The spine of the axis is very thick at the base and divided or almost bifurcated 

 in front ; posteriorly, projecting out over the top of 3d cervical, to which it is anchy- 

 losed on the left side. The real spine of the axis is a thin ridge about 2 in. 

 long. 



The diapophyses of the 3d to the 6th cervicals are almost equal in development, 

 transverse, and slender; shorter than in the axis or in the 7th cervical. That on 

 the right side of the 3d cervical is shortest, but that on the left side is longer than 

 in the 4th cervical. 



The diapophysis of the 7th cervical is much longer and thicker and inclines 

 strongly forward and also downward below the plane of the end of the parapophysis 

 of the 6th cervical. 



The parapophyses of the 3d and 4th cervicals are short and thick, es- 

 pecially distally, and nearly transverse, but strongly inclined downward. Those 

 of the 5th and 6th cervicals are much longer and thinner, and are strongly 

 bent upward and forward. The parapophysis of the 7th cervical is a mere 

 tubercle. 



The neural arch of the 3d cervical is open above and anchylosed to the spine 

 of the axis on the left side, as already stated. The spines of the 4th and 5th cer- 

 vicals are mere rudiments ; of the 6th, about a ^ in. long ; and of the 7th, about one 

 inch long, conical and equal to the spine of the 1st dorsal. 



The last caudal vertebra is about as large as a pea. It seems probable that 

 one is missing between it and the next one anteriorly, which is much larger, but 

 such may not be the case. 



The 4th, 5th, and 6th ribs are of the same length (26 in., straight) and are 

 the longest of the series. 



As regards the number of vertebrae, the various records are not entirely in 

 accord, but such variation as there is rather accentuates the general agreement than 

 otherwise. The enumeration of Sir Wm. Turner (92, 63) is probably the most 

 accurate, having been made under favorable circumstances, and with the intent of 

 correcting previous errors. The majority of museum specimens, however, are not 

 absolutely perfect as regards the final caudal vertebrae. The majority of European 

 specimens have been found to have 48 vertebrae, including 12 lumbars. This is the 

 number in the Massachusetts skeleton also, which may, however, possibly lack 

 the penultimate caudal. The variations recorded by different observers are as 

 follows : 



