160 Prof. M'lntosli's Notes from the 



on them, whilst their distribution is cosmopolitan. This 

 female may have been from 50 to 100 years old, but, of course, 

 this statement is conjectural. So far as can be observed, the 

 specific distinctions of Killers are in need of careful re- 

 examination. 



In this specimen there were 52 or possibly 53 vertebrae, 

 and some of the caudal showed traces of age in the granular 

 bony growths on their surfaces. The lumbar vertebrae were 

 somewhat smaller than those of the male. Four of the 

 cervical vertebrae were firmly fused (viz. atlas, axis, and the 

 two following), then the spines of last three were fixed, and the 

 centra of the 5th and 6th also, whilst the body of the 7th was 

 free. Anchylosis in this old female had therefore advanced 

 further than in the male. There are eleven pairs of ribs, but 

 the transverse processes of the 12th dorsal vertebra had 

 narrow facets, and as a small and slender rib accompanied 

 the rest it is probable that twelve pairs existed. The 7th rib 

 on the left had a callus (from fracture) about a foot from the 

 transverse process, and the 9th, 10th, and 11th on the right 

 showed the same feature, the callus on the 11th being 

 largest. These ribs had been fractured by a powerful blow — 

 perhaps from the tail of a large right whale or a rorqual 

 which it had attacked during its long predatory career. The 

 first rib was 12 inches long from the head to the articular 

 surface for the massive costal bone, and the sternal articular 

 end of the latter and the sternum itself were roughened by 

 small bony excrescences. The sternum, originally of four 

 pieces, formed a solid mass of bone without trace of aperture, 

 thus differing from that of Heinhardt's Pseudorca crussidens, 

 which likewise had a long first rib. A single pelvic bone, 

 about 8 inches long, was preserved. It agreed with Rein- 

 hardt's description in being less curved than in the male. 

 The scapula measured 13i inches from the dorsal to the 

 glenoid edge, and its extreme breadth was 17i inches, thus 

 being slightly less than that of the male. The humerus and 

 the upper end of the radius and ulna showed the same 

 granular rough surfaces, externally and internally, as were 

 noticed elsewhere. This condition may have been partly due 

 to age and partly to an arthritic affection, such as occasionally 

 is found in the vertebral column of horses and other domestic 

 animals. Ossification of the carpus was noteworthy. 



The following measurements of this female are contrasted 

 with those of a Killer of 21 feet {Pseudorca crassidens) given 

 by Reinhardt : — 



