THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. 



275 



The averages of these several percentages, compared with those of the three 

 Snook's Arm, Newfoundland, Humpbacks which I measured, are as follows: 



MEQAPTERA VERSABILIS AND M. NODOSA. NORTH PACIFIC AND NEWFOUNDLAND. 



The agreement exhibited is quite close, except as regards the distance from 

 the tip of the snout to the eye, and the breadth of the flukes. The reason for 

 the discrepancy in the former measurement is not clear, as the photographs at 

 command do not show any noticeable difference in the position of the eye. Though 

 there is no doubt considerable variation in the actual breadth of the flukes, all 

 measurements of this part both in the present and the Finbacks vary more than 

 could be expected. There appears to be some difficulty in measuring the flukes 

 accurately, or else different observers use different methods of measurement. 



The photographs of the Humpback taken in Henderson Bay, Puget Sound, 

 Washington, September 5, 1896, reproduced in plate 41, figs. 1-4, confirm many of 

 the characters given by Scammon, and afford others showing that the species bears 

 the strongest possible resemblance to M. nodosa. 



Thus, the dermal tubercles on the head are arranged in three rows, a median 

 one and a double one on each side. The median row has about 6 tubercles and 

 each lateral one about 10, as in M, nodosa. There is a cluster of tubercles at the 

 symphysis of the mandible, and about 10 on each ramus. The dorsal fin is low, 

 with a concave anterior border, and a knob-like tip, as in one of the Newfound- 

 land specimens. 1 A deep furrow extends backward from the mouth across the 

 shoulder. The pectorals are white above with a median dark mark proximally; 

 below, entirely white. The flukes are undoubtedly more or less white below. 

 Unfortunately, the pectorals are turned in such a position that the emarginations 

 on the anterior border cannot be seen. This whale, according to an account pub- 

 lished in the Northwest Magazine May, 1897, was 45 ft. long; the pectoral fins 

 about 9 ft. long; the flukes 13 ft. from tip to tip. 



In two photographs of California " scenery " presented to the National Museum 

 by Mr. Chas. H. Townsend, Humpbacks are represented, showing the pectorals. 

 (See pi. 40, fig. 4; pi. 41, fig. 5). One shows the under side of the left pectoral, 

 which is white for the most part, but with black in the proximal fourth, and a nar- 

 row black posterior border, and black on the tubercles of the anterior border. 



' This same form is shown in the photographic views of antarctic Humpbacks published by 

 Racovitza in the cetology of the voyage of the Belgica, 1903. 



