226 THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



median line of the snout, 4 about the blowhole, 9 in the right lateral row, and 8 in 

 the left lateral row ; making a total of 26, the same number as in the Tay whale. 



In the Iceland Humpback examined by Hallas (60, 174) there were 24 dermal 

 tubercles on the head, of which 5 stood in the median line, 10 on the right side, in 

 two rows, and 9 on the left side, also in two rows. On the mandible were 21 tuber- 

 cles, of which 11 were on the right side in a single row, and 10 on the left side. 



From these observations it is evident that while the tubercles are indefinite in 

 number and exact location, their general arrangement is the same in the Humpbacks 

 of both sides of the Atlantic. 



DORSAL FIN. 



In the Newfoundland specimen, No. 5, the dorsal fin was erect aud falcate, with 

 a concave posterior margin. The upper part of the anterior margin was also con- 

 cave, as if from an injury which had removed a portion of the fin and destroyed 

 the regularly falcate shape. This may, however, be an individual variation. (See 

 pi. 37, fig. 1.) In specimen No. 6, Newfoundland, the dorsal fin was similar to that 

 of No. 5, but the anterior margin was regularly convex, and the posterior margin 

 almost straight. There was nothing in the shape of the dorsal in these specimens 

 suggesting a boss or knob. The fin was erect and prominent, like that of a dol- 

 phin or Finback whale, but thicker at the base. 



In the foetus from Newfoundland specimen No. 6, the dorsal was somewhat 

 falcate, the tip curved backward, the posterior margin with a moderate concavity 

 or rather S-shaped, on account of a convexity at the base. The tip was not 

 thickened. 



The dorsal fin of the Tay River whale, as figured by Struthers (57, pi. 2, fig. 

 2) was low, reclined, and rounded ; the anterior margin convex, and the posterior 

 straight or slightly convex. (See text fig. 72.) The photograph of this whale in 

 my possession, on the contrary, shows the fin prominent, erect, and somewhat 

 falcate, exactly as in the Newfoundland specimens. 



Eschricht figured the dorsal fin of a Greenland Humpback, or KeporlcaJc, which 

 was sent him in salt by Capt. Holboll (37, pi. 5, fig. 1). This figure represents the 

 fin as an obtuse, thick mass, with an irregularly convex posterior margin. I find it 

 impossible to escape the feeling that this fin was imperfect either from injury or 

 imperfect preservation, or both. Sars has already expressed the same opinion (80, 

 13). 1 Eschricht published two figures of a f ratal Eeporkak (37, pi. 3, figs. 1, 2), 

 neither of which is like the dorsal of the adult. One of these figures (fig. 2) is 

 an enlargement of the dorsal of the foetus represented in the other (fig. 1). It is 



1 Sars's comment is as follows: " The figure of the dorsal of a Greenland specimen given by 

 Eschricht from a preparation in salt is, as already said, quite essentially different [from the normal 

 shape] and has rather the form of a low fatty lump than that of a real fin, which led Eschricht to give 

 the whale the Danish common name ' Pukkelhval ' (Hump-whale). It is likely that the part under- 

 goes important variation in different individuals. Yet I should be more inclined to the opinion that 

 the example from which the dorsal described by Eschricht was derived had suffered some sort of 

 injury in that part, whereby the dorsal became deformed." 



