216 : Transactions,— Zoology. 
between the last lumbar and first caudal. It may, however, be possible 
that the first chevron bones are so very rudimentary that they were not 
secured at the time, in both instances, and that moreover they do not articu- 
late with the posterior lower surface of the vertebra in question. Van 
Beneden and Gervais state that the spinal processes augment in height 
along the vertebral column to the first lumbar vertebra in M. boops. No 
information is offered on this point in their deseription of the skeleton of 
M. lalandii. I found in the New Zealand specimen that the spinal pro- 
cesses continue rising up to the third lumbar, which is 113 inches high, the 
first being 103 inches and the second 11 inches. 
The sternum, a rather thickish bone, is 
94 inches high and 9 inches broad. It is 
rounded at the top and pointed below. 
One well-marked articulation exists on 
each side for the attachment of the rib. 
I have added a drawing (the inner side of 
the bone) in illustration. 
The sternum of Megaptera on pl. ix. of 
Van Beneden’s and Gervais’ work varies 
BEN: very much from ours, as it is more in the 
form of a horseshoe, with*its frontal part downwards, so that the open side 
is at the top. 
The scapula, of which a correct draw- 
ing of that of the left side also accom- 
panies these notes, measures 291 inches 
in breadth by 214 inches in height. It 
does not possess the character of the 
scapula figured by Van Beneden and 
Gervais on page 133 of their previously- 
cited work, where a well-marked acro- 
mion is existing. 
Our specimen, although not totally 
devoid of this character in the northern Megaptera, shows this only in a 
very rudimentary degree. The spot whence the acromion starts in the 
Balenide is only very slightly swollen, so that a small curve is marked on 
the outline of the bone. There is no sign of a coracoid. 
The drawing of the scapula on plate ix. of the atlas belonging to the 
same work is however more in accordance with the bone of the New Zea- 
land specimen. 
