1076 MR. 0KJAN OLSEN ON 



[B. phijsalus). The greatest height of the body (at the antei'ior 

 end of the flippers) is usually about 1 4 per cent, of the total 

 length, occasionally less, and only in a single case (a male of 

 Saldanha Bay, 12.9.12) is it as much as 14'7 per cent. The 

 greatest breadth is almost the same as the height, or a little less. 

 In five specimens meo.siTred by me in Saldanha Bay the pro- 

 portion of the grea,test breadth (at the flippers) compared with 

 the total length was as follows: — 12-8, 12-9, 14, 14-2 per cent., 

 which gives an average breadth of 13"4 percent. In a single 

 case — that of a very thin male — the breadth was only 11'8 per 

 cent. The body is^therefore of a far less powerful build than in 

 B. horealis and B. acutorostrata, and resembles more that of the 

 Fin-whale [B. physalus). The hinder part of the body (from the 

 genital opening to the tail) is comparatively less compressed than 

 in B. horealis, but decreases gradually and slowly towards the 

 rear up to the root of the tail-flukes. The caudal part forms a 

 thin ridge above and below, wbicli is at its sharpest along the 

 dorsal line (PI. CXI. fig. 7). In order to facilitate the com- 

 parison between B hrydei and the other species of the genus 

 Bcdcenoptera, I have added a table showing the most remarkable 

 differences. I have not considered it necessary to mention the 

 Blue whale {B. onusculus)^ as its size, dorsal fin, colour, and 

 many other characteristics make any confusion with B. hrydei 

 impossible. 



Table 



showing the most notable differences between Bcdcenoptera 

 hrydei and the other species of the same genus (except 

 the Blue whale). 



B.actito- B. B. B. 



rostrata. horealis. hrydei. pJii/saltts, 

 Total length (maximuin) 10'3 m. l6'3m. 15 m. 2-1 m. 



Per cent, of total length. 



From tip of snout to blowhole ...:.. 13'5 ]5"1 lo'3 



angle of mouth 13-17 17-8 19-4^20-2 ca. 20 



flippers 29-8 SO-6-327 33 



dorsal fin 61-68 65-70 69-73 



Height of body at the flippers 20 18 14 



Height of the dorsal fin 4-56 3-3-4-7 2-2-4 



Length of the flippers (from axilla) ... 8-7-9-3 8-106 9-9-I1-3 



Greatest breadth of the flippers com- 7 Caslto3'5 as 1 to 



pared to their length ) •■■ I or 3-6 2-2 



Number of ventral furrows ... ... 42-54 60-100 



Number of baleen-plates (without I 

 the rudimentary baleen) ) 



Greatest length of baleen in adult) „.„„ „.,,„ ... ,„ „.,,„ 



specimens (without bristles) j 020m. 072m. 049m. O-JO m. 



