1883.] 



PROF. FLOWER ON RUDOLPHI S RORQUAL. 



515 



broad flattened form characteristic of this species. The pelvic bones 

 were very small and partly cartilaginous, 4| inches long, flattened, 

 with one border slightly concave, and the other convex, and having 

 a rounded prominence near the middle. The pectoral fins were 

 long and narrow, as in the Rorquals generally ; the length from the 

 head of the humerus to the extremity of the fin was 3 feet 9 inches 

 (1-140 m.), the greatest breadth 9 inches (0*230 m.). The skin 

 not having yet been removed, I can give no information about the 

 number or form of the carpal bones or phalanges. The dorsal fin 

 was preserved with the skeleton, and appeared large in proportion to 

 the size of the animal, at all events in comparison with that of B. 

 musculus. Its extremity is pointed, and its hinder border strongly 



Baltsnoptera hor calls. 



Stermim nnd sternal ends of first pair of ribs in their natural relations ; one 

 fourth natural size. The dotted lines show approximatively the exi ent 

 of ossification of the sternum and of the ribs. 



concave, giving it a distinctly falcate form ; its height above the 

 general line of the back is 11 inches (0*280 m.), and the length of 

 its base 1 foot 4 inches (0'406 m.). 



The baleen was also fortunately preserved. The outer edge and 

 greater part of each blade is black ; but the inner edge and the 

 hairy fringe of the larger blades and the small or subsidiary inner 

 blades are almost pure white. The small blades at the posterior 

 end of the series gradually change in colour from black to nearly 

 white. The longest blades in the middle of the series are exactly 

 12 inches in length on the outer edge, to which about an inch may 

 be added for the hairy fringe. To count the blades accurately is 

 impossible, as they gradually degenerate at the extremities of the 

 series, especially in front, into little more than bristles ; but 300 on 

 each side may be taken as a close approximation. 



