1883.] PROF. J. VON HAAST ON BAL^NOPTERA AUSTRALIS. 593 



form a complete ring ; that in the atlas is rather small, but in th 

 five following becomes large. 



The seventh cervical vertebra possesses only the two upper trans 

 verse processes, well developed, and expanding near their extremities. 

 Only a small protuberance exists on each side of the body, repre- 

 senting the lower transverse processes. 



The forms of the 15 ribs are exactly like those described by Dr. 

 Hector, and need no further comment. We possess only 14 

 chevron bones, but it is very probable that, in extracting the 

 skeleton, some of the smaller have been overlooked. The sternum, 

 17 inches in height and 20^ inches in breadth, also resembles the 

 one figured by Dr. Hector. A drawing of that bone accompanies 

 these notes. 



I also add a drawing of the right pelvic bone (fig. 1, p. 592) : the 



Fig. 2. 



Sternum of Balmnoptera australis; one eighth natural size. 



left is similar in form. Its greatest length is 13 inches, its 

 greatest breadth 6 inches. There was not the least sign of any 

 small bone attached to it, which according to Professor Flower 

 occurs in B. musculus, and might be considered as a rudimentary 

 femur. There is, however, near the spot vrhere this little bone was 

 observed by our learned President, a small foramen passing vertically 

 through the bone. 



The anterior limb is identical in form with the one figured by 

 Dr. Hector, of which, however, some of the phalanges of the middle 

 fingers have been lost ; and in comparing this part of our specimen 

 with the bones of the complete fore limb of Balcenoptera tnusculus 

 on plates xii. and xiii. (no. 20) of the 'Osteographie des Cetaces' 

 by Van Beneden and Gervais, I find that they correspond to each 

 other in every respect. 



