1078 MR. 0RJAN OLSESr ON 



is usually placed anterior to the beginning of tlie last third of the 

 body (according to R. Collett). 



The tail-flukes are broad and comparatively somewhat shorter 

 than in B. borealis. The length of each fluke is from 10-11 per 

 cent, of the total length, or about the same as in the fin-whale. In 

 a male specimen, of which the total length was 13'07 metres, their 

 thickne.^s at the base was about 0'20 metre and 0" 12-0" 14 metre 

 halfway between the base and the tip. 



On each side of the tail, above and below, there is a thin ridge 

 which gradually becomes lower towards the rear, and disappeai'S 

 between the flukes, about 0*10 metre from the end of the 

 body. 



The eyes are comparatively larger than in the fin-whale, and 

 placed just .above the angle of the mouth, in the same place as in 

 the fin-whale, but further back than in B. borealis. 



The distance from the tip of the snout to the bloivholes is about 

 15"3 per cent, of the total length. In adult specimens the length 

 of the blowholes is from 0"32-0-40 metre. They are placed 

 on a broad ridge on the head in two long furrows, which converge 

 very much towards the front. Between them there is a shorter 

 central furrow. 



The ventral furroios vun. along the whole length of the lower 

 jaw and extend to the umbilicus, about 1"2 metres behind the 

 tip of the flippers (as in the fin- and blue Avhales). In B. borealis 

 they end about 0-30 metre beyond the tip of the flippers 

 (R. Oollett). Above the long furrows there are 5-8 shorter ones 

 with a length of 0"30-0'60 metre, and these terminate in the 

 axilla. In front of the flippers there are also a few short furrows 

 which extend forward into the angle of the mouth. On the belly, 

 in the area below the angle of the mouth, some shorter fuiTOws 

 are as a rule wedged in amongst the others. Just in front of the 

 umbilicus, where the long furrows terminate, a number of quite 

 short furrows are also to be seen. The number of long furrows 

 varies from 42-54. 



The anus is noticeably further to the rear than in B. borealis, 

 and the distance from the anus to the notch of the flukes is as a 

 rule about 27'2 per cent, of the total length. 



The 2)enis is rather big and with the vulva is placed in a generally 

 dark-coloured furrow 1-1*5 metres long, about two-thirds of 

 which run anterior to the genital opening, and about one-third 

 behind. 



A varying number of whitish-grey oblong spots, about 7-8 cms. 

 in length and about 3 cms. in breadth, are distributed over the 

 whole body. Along the centre of their long axis there runs 

 usually a dark line, from which fine radii of similar lines run in all 

 directions. These patches probably show places once attacked by 

 parasites. In addition to these whitish spots a number of fresh 

 wounds, with a length of as much as 10 cms. and 3-4 cms. deep, 

 can be seen in most cases. They are maiks caused by parasites — 

 generally a Pennella. 



