4418 TueE ZooLocist—APRIL, 1875. 
Feet. Inches. 
Width of second dorsal fin : - - : - : 0 
Distance between the first and second dorsal - - : 
Length of pectoral fins - - - a : : = 
Width of pectoral fins —- - - - : 2 
Length of ventral fins - - : = - 4 
Width of ventral fins - - = - : : 
Length of anal fin’ - . - - LU : = é 
Width of anal fin’ - - - : 2 : E 7 
Length of claspers - - - - - : a 3 
Upper caudal fin - - - - - : i , 
Lower caudal fin - - : - . : (about) 
From point to point of lobes - - - < ‘i 
Orifice ofeye - - - : “ . - . . 
Diameter of the back-bone - : - . a > 
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The liver, the lobes of which measure thirteen feet in length, 
yielded about 102 gallons of oil. The skin has been secured for 
the British Museum at a cost of £15. 
Henry HAprieELp. 
High Cliff, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, 
March 12, 1875. 
[The claspers mentioned by Captain Hadfield in this very interesting 
communication are common to some other species of shark. The food of the 
basking shark has been the subject of some discussion, and Mr. Yarrell 
observes that no remaius of fish have been found in its stomach. Mr. Low, 
in his ‘ Zoology of the Orkneys,’ says, ‘“‘ The appearance, manners and 
weapons of this shark do not indicate it to be a ravenous fish.” Every 
particular of its habits and diet are therefore of the utmost value to ichthy- 
ologists, who will be much indebted to Captain Hadfield for the pains he 
has taken.—Edward Newman.| 
Common Rorqual on Shore at Happisburgh, on the Norfolk Coast. 
On the Ist of March a fine full-grown male of the common rorqual 
(Balenoptera Musculus, Linn.), was washed on shore at Happisburgh, on 
the Norfolk coast. I first saw it on the 2nd, but owing to the rough surf 
which was breaking upon the beach and the unfavourable position in which 
it lay, any close examination was impossible. ‘The head was reversed and 
partially buried in the sand, so that the blow-hole was not to be seen; the 
body then slewed over nearly on its side, the tail portion again having the 
under part uppermost; in this position, the belly being towards me and 
very much distended,—the surf not allowing me to go to the other side,— 
> a 
