282 THE WHALEBONE WHALES OF THE WESTERN" NORTH ATLANTIC. 



16.1 %. The length of the radius shows an equally close agreement 17.3 % in the 

 Atlantic specimens, 17.5 % in the California skeleton. 



All the bones of the California skeleton are rugged and massive, and there 

 can be no doubt that it represents the adult state. The bony rings formed by the 

 lateral processes of the axis are very broad ; its neural arch and spine are low, but 

 thick and quadrate in form. The neural spines of the cervicals and the first two 

 dorsals are low and triangular, but farther back increase rapidly in size and become 

 broad, high, and quadrate. The first four pairs of ribs are furnished with capitular 

 processes, of which those of the second and third pairs are longest. The penulti- 

 mate pair of ribs is shorter than the last pair, and both are much straighter than 

 the preceding pairs. The first rib is short and flat, and broad at the free end. 



The form of the sternum (see text fig. 32), though resembling in a general way 

 that of adults of B. physalus, does not correspond exactly to the sternum of any 

 specimen of that species thus far figured, as will be seen by consulting the figures 

 on pages 140, 141. The anterior portion is broadly pentagonal, with an emar- 

 ginate anterior border and a central vacuity. Attached posteriorly is a narrow 

 segment, which near the middle of its length diminishes again in width rather 

 abruptly. 



The scapula has the outline characteristic of B. physalus, the superior margin 

 quite straight, but bent down sharply behind, while the anterior margin makes an 



angle of about 45 with the plane of the 

 edges of the glenoid fossa. The acromion is 

 large and club-shaped (see text fig. 97 ; also 

 pi. V, fig. 3). 



This skeleton is more noticeable for its 

 agreement with B. physalus than for any 

 distinguishing characters. The shape of the 

 sternum, on the whole, presents the greatest 

 difference, and in a part which varies so 



FlG g7 much as this the importance of this differ- 



ence cannot be strongly insisted upon. 

 The measurements of the San Clemente Id. specimen, given below, are not as 

 trustworthy as could be wished for, since it appears probable that the fins and 

 other parts were more or less distorted by drying and other post-mortem changes. 

 They are as follows : 



Total length from tip of mandible to tip of flukes 55 ft. o in. 



Tip of snout to blowhole 8 " 2 



Length of pectoral " from shoulder-joint " 5 " 4 



Height of dorsal fin o " 1 1 



Breadth of flukes 9 " 10 



Notch of flukes to posterior base of dorsal 10 " 8 



Tip of mandible to eye 12 " 6 



Professor Osborn states that the whale, as preserved, was black, and quotes 

 Capt. J. H. Hoe, who captured the specimen, to the effect that " the whalebone 



