592 PROF./. VOM HAASr O.V BVL ENOPrSRA AUSTRAHS. [DcC. -1, 



6. Notes on a Skeleton of Balceaoptera australis, D^s- 

 mouliuSj the Grreat Southern Rorqual or " Sulphur- 

 Bottom'^ of Whalers. By Prof. Julius von Haast, 

 C.M.G., Ph.D., F.R.S., C.M.Z.S. 



[Eeceivecl November 20, 1883.] 



On the evenuig of April 20th, 1881, the news reached me that 

 a large Whale had been washed up on the New Brighton beach, 

 about five miles from Christchurch. 



On arriving at the locality next morning, I found it to be the 

 carcase of a large Southern Rorqual, about 67 feet long. The exact 

 length could not be ascertained, the specimen not lying quite straight. 

 It was a male, and had probably been dead from four to five weeks. 

 The animal had been torn considerably by sharks, and the whole 

 baleen had been lost before it landed on the beach. It was lying 

 nearly on its back, and a great portion of the blubber, as far as ex- 

 posed, had already been cut off. 



The position and form of the dorsal fin could not be ascertained, 



Fig. 1. 



Eight pelvic bone of Balcsno-ptera australis ; one fourth natural size. 



and unfortunately 1 omitted to leave instructions to investigate these 

 particulars when the upper portion of the carcase was examined. 

 The throat and belly, of a clear white colour, were deeply plaited, 

 the sides and back being of a bluish-black tint. 



The total length of the skeleton (allowing for cartilage) is 66 feet, 

 the skull measuring 16 feet, and the vertebrse 50 feet. There are 

 7 cervical, 15 dorsal, 15 lumbar, and 25 caudal; altogether 62 ver- 

 tebrae. The cervical vertebrae are all free, and resemble closely those 

 described and figured by Dr. Hector (Transactions New-Zealand 

 Institute, vol. vii. page 258). The lateral processes are united, and 



