THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NOETH ATLANTIC. 



233 



SKULL. 



Measurements of European skulls, which can be compared with one another, 

 have been recorded in the case of the type of M. longimana (by Rudolphi) and the 

 Tay River whale (by Struthers). 



Measurements of the skull of the Greenland Humpback can be obtained from 

 Escbricht's figure (39). Of American specimens, I have measured the skulls of the 

 types of M. osphyia and M. bellicosa, and of two other specimens from Cape Cod, 

 Mass. These various measurements are brought together in the following table : 



MEGAPTERA NODOSA (BONNATERRE). EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN. SKULL. 



It will be seen that there is no marked difference in the proportions of the 

 American and European specimens (including the type of M. longimana) except in 

 a few instances. The breadth of the rostrum in the type of M. longimana, meas- 

 ured on Rudolphi's figure, and therefore flat or straight, is considerably less than 

 in the American specimens. That this is probably an error in the figure, rather 

 than a real difference, appears from the fact that in the skull of the Tay River 

 whale the rostrum is as broad as in the American specimens. 



The Greenland Humpback, from Eschricht's figure, would seem to have shorter 

 and very much narrower nasal bones than the other specimens (pis. 29 and 32, figs. 

 1 and 2). It is possible, of course, that this may be a character of the Greenland 



1 Rheinland feet. ' Breadth across distal end of outer margins. 



* From figure. ' Straight, as mounted ; is too much curved 



' Straight. and lacks 4 or 5 caudal vertebrae. 



