ON BELMULLET WHALING STATION. 127 



Of tile above I had the ojiportimity of exaiaining thirty-six speci- 

 mens — Fin Whales 31, Blue Whales 4, Sejhval 1. 



A mass of ambergris of fifteen pounds' weight was obtained from one 

 of the Sperm Whales. 



IV. Measurements and Proportions. 

 (See Tables at end of this Eeport.) 



The series of measurements used last year ^ was retained, and in 

 addition one other dimension was added. I have used the name 

 ' falcation of dorsal fin ' for this measurement. If a line be taken 

 from the tip of the dorsal fin to the line of the back, and at right angles 

 to the long axis of the animal, the maximum distance from this hne 

 to the posterior margin ol the dorsal fin is the ' falcation of the dorsal 

 fin.' 



It indicates the depth of the notch in the posterior margin of the 

 dorsal fin, and is very varied. The maximum is 11 in. =4'1 per cent., 

 and the minimum 4 in. ='49 per cent. So far as can be seen from 



— ^ B 



Fig. 2. — Dorsal fin. B. physalus, showing new measurement, indicated by line C. 



so small a number of specimens (27) the variation is not dependent 

 on sex. In fig. 2 the line indicates new measurement. 



In No. 22, a Fin Whale, one fluke had not been completely severed, 

 and I was therefore able to measure it. The distance between the tip of 

 the fluke and the notch between the flukes, measured along the posterior 

 margin, was 7 ft. 4 in. , giving a spread of 14 ft. 8 in. for the flukes.^ 



• Total Length. 

 The accompanying tables give the averages of total length of the 

 species seen and a more detailed analysis of the total length of the 

 Finners. 



Finners (B. physalus L.). 



"Pi in 



Average length of all Fiimers (31) 59 11* 



.» ,. „ females (16) 63 5 



>, „ males (15) 56 2 



>, „ „ adult females (13) 66 2 



,, " " " .. males (9) 60 la 



Maximum for females 70 9 



Minimum „ „ .' .' 49 4 



Maximum „ males 64 10 



Minimum „ „ ! ! 44 6 



* British Association Report 1914, p. 128. 



■' Of. British Association Report 1914, p. 129. 



