1886.] MR. R.COLLETT ON BALZNOPTERA BOREALIs.. 243 
R. arvalis, let him read Pfliiger’s account of experiments on the 
crossing of the German frogs. Dissidents from the modern views on 
the specific distinctions of the forms of /. temporaria have of late 
become very few. That there should be at the present day a 
naturalist to express the opinion that R. arvalis is the male and 
R. temporaria the female of the same species, and a herpetologist, who 
professes to know European Frogs, to reproduce such nonsense with 
the remark “ should this discovery be confirmed it will afford an 
uneapected solution to the controversy,” may appear incredible, but 
is unfortunately true. 
APPENDIX. 
The following paper, originally intended for the ‘Transactions,’ 
has been ordered by the Committee of Publications (at the request of 
the Author) to be printed in this part of the * Proceedings ’:— 
On the External Characters of Rudolphi’s Rorqual. (Baleno- 
ptera borealis). By Rosurr Coxiert, C.M.Z.S.* 
[Received January 4, 1886: read February 2, 1886.] 
(Plates XXV., XXVI.) 
Contents. 
I. Introductory Remarks, p. 243. X. Parasites, p. 255. 
If. General Characters, p. 246. XI. Time of capture, p. 259. 
III. Measurements, p. 248. XII. Fetus, p. 260. 
IV. Structure of the Body, p. 248. XIII. Food, p. 261. 
V. Colour, p. 249. XIV. Habits, p. 263, 
VI. Flippers and other external XV. Value, p. 263. 
characters, p. 252. XVI. Monstrosities, p. 264. 
VII. Baleen, p. 253. XVII. Synopsis of the four northern 
VIII. Blow-holes and furrows, p.255. species of  Balenoptera, 
IX. Hairy covering, p. 255. p. 264. 
I. Introductory Remarks. 
Although our knowledge of Balenoptera borealis has been con- 
siderably increased during the last few years, still almost all researches 
have been confined to its anatomical structure, and no complete 
description has hitherto been given of its external characters. 
Even up to the year 1882 the species was only known from a small 
number of stranded specimens, the skeletons of which had found 
their way into different museums ; but of the external characters of 
* (Mr. A. Heneage Cocks, F.Z.S., has kindly added some footnotes, which 
are designated by his initials. —Ep. | 
