THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 271 



Length. 

 No - 57, 1 35- "Japan." Bought of Wm. Philips & Son, New Bedford, Mass., 1883. .. 8 ft. 6 in. 



1 3,990. Sea of Japan. Capt. C. M. Scammon, 1873 8 " 2 " 



" 13,988. N. W. coast of America. Capt. C. M. Scammon 8" 2" 



" 57,134. "Northwest." Bought of Wm. Philips & Son, New Bedford, Mass., 1883 7" 2" 



Regarding this species, Van Beueden remarked in 1875 (5, 37) : "It seems to 

 us demonstrated and confirmed to-day . . . that the whale of the coasts of Japan 

 is a distinct species, and occurs in the North Pacific as the Basque whale occurs in 

 the North Atlantic." 



Megaptera versabilis Cope. 



Cope described this species from the data furnished by Scammon (83, 15). 

 These data include the following characters : 



1. "A short body with immense belly, and frequently diminutive 'small'; 

 inordinately large pectorals and flukes." 



2. "A protuberance, of variable shape and size in different individuals, placed 

 on the back about one fourth the length from the flukes, is called the hump." 



3. " The top of the head is dotted with irregular rounded bunches, that project 

 above the surface about a half inch, each covering about two inches of space." 



4. " Number of folds on the belly twenty-six, averaging in width from four to 

 eight inches." 



5. " Color of body black, under side of pectorals white. Frequently the 

 under side of the flukes is white likewise, and sometimes the greater portion of 

 the belly." 



6. "The Humpback has also growing on its body what are termed barnacles, 

 which appear to collect most on the fins, flukes, and head." 



"The following measurements and memoranda were taken by Capt. F. S. 

 Redfield, of the whaling and trading brig Manuella, while cruising in Behring Sea, 

 September 17th, 1866" 1 : 



Ft. In. 



Extreme length 49 7 



Length of pectorals 13 7 



Breadth " 3 2 



Distance from snout to pectorals 12 o 



corner of mouth to snout 9 6 



eye to snout 10 2 



" spoutholes to snout 9 4 



Breadth of flukes 15 7 



Depth " " 3 4 



Distance from anus to flukes 1 1 6 



" genital slit to flukes 17 o 



Length of folds on belly 1 6 o 



Whole breadth of folds on belly 10 o 



1 These measurements were corrected in the Marine Mammals, p. 39, and the later figures 

 are given here. 



