THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 255 



BAL^NA OLACIALIS BONNATERRE. EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN. SKELETON. 



G:isco has given figures of many of the vertebrae of the Taranto (Italy) skele- 

 ton (47, pis. 3, 5, 7, 8), in which the outlines are taken from photographs. These 

 figures I have compared with the Long Island (N. Y.) skeleton in the National 

 Museum, No. 23077, and find a most complete agreement, except in one or two 

 cases. In the figure of the 4th lumbar of the Taranto skeleton (vertebra No. 24) 

 the anterior zygopophysis is much smaller than in the Long Island skeleton, and 

 the posterior margin of the base of the neural arch is much more curved. In the 

 side view of the 1st lumbar of the Taranto whale (vertebra No. 21) the transverse 

 process is represented as having a peculiar shape and direction which is not evident 

 in the front view of the same vertebra, and is not found in the Long Island skele- 

 ton. The sixth caudal (vert. No. 39) of the Taranto skeleton is represented as 

 having only a shallow emargination inferiorly, while in the Long Island and other 

 specimens the emargination is very deep and the anterior and posterior margins 

 come close together, foreshadowing the formation of the foramen which is found in 

 the posterior caudals. There is every probability that this figure is incorrect, or 

 that the vertebra is imperfect below. All the vertebrae of the Taranto skeleton 

 are figured without the epiphyses, and hence appear thinner than they otherwise 

 would. 



1 From figure. 



'' I4th dorsal. 



3 Probably 2d caudal. 



4 Anterior. 



5 With proximal epiphysis. 



6 Caudals too much spaced. 



7 Posterior. 



8 From Manigault. 



9 Vertebra No. 22. 



10 Twice 



