162 REPORTS ON THE STATE OF SCIENCE,—1912. 
American specimens is 71 feet 7 inches. For all females Cocks gives 
an average of 75 feet 8 inches, which again agrees: very closely with 
the figure in the table. True gives a corresponding measurement of 
70 feet. 
The maximum length for females in Table IV. is also larger than 
True’s corresponding measurement, and agrees with Cocks’s figure. 
Following True in taking 72 feet as the minimum for mature speci- 
mens, we find that Cocks gives 79 feet 3 inches, True 74 feet 8} inches, 
and Table IV. 83 feet 6 inches, as the average for mature females. 
The figure from the table is not sufficiently trustworthy to be taken as 
exact, as ib is deduced from only two individuals, but it shows that, as 
for the general average and maximum, the figures obtained from 
European specimens are larger than those from Newfoundland catches. 
This is a similar result to that obtained for B. musculus, and 
similar conclusions may be drawn, though it is hard to see why in both 
species the larger individuals should be on this side of the Atlantic. 
The differences can hardly be due to a difference in the system of 
measuring, as the figures in Tables I. to IV. were obtained in the same 
way as True’s. 
B. Proportions. 
1. Balenoptera musculus (L.).—Table V. shows a series of twelve 
measurements besides the total length. As many as possible of this 
series were taken on every whale examined. The actual measurements 
are those which are most useful in comparing with the results of other 
observers, and it is much to be desired that the series should be taken 
by any observer who is in a position to do go. 
All the distances are those which give the most definite points for 
measuring purposes, with the probable exception of the distances taken 
for the length of the pectoral fin. The ideal measurement for this is 
from the tip to the head of the humerus, but it was found that if the 
flipper be arranged as nearly at right angles to the body as possible the 
posterior and anterior insertions gave fairly definite points. 
As mentioned above, the distance between the tips of the tail-flukes 
could not be obtained at the station, as the flukes were cut off. Table VI. 
shows the same measurements reduced to percentages of the total 
length in the case of each specimen. The individuals are arranged in 
order of total length, the longest being first. 
Leaving out all immature specimens, i.e., those below 55 feet 
7 inches, Table VII. represents the average percentages for different 
dimensions in European (Irish) and American specimens respectively, 
the figures for the American individuals being taken from True.*! 
From this table we get the somewhat. curious result that all the 
proportions of the Irish specimens are a little smaller than those of 
the American individuals, although, as was shown above, the average 
total length of the latter is less than that of the former. ; 
It will be seen that, other things being equal, the averages from 
the Irish specimens should be the more trustworthy, as a much larger 
number of individuals is considered. t ST 
*! True, op. cit., p. 118. 
