174 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



backwards, but much stouter than that of the precedmg seventh cervical. 

 The same process, although short and stout, takes a horizontal position in 

 the second dorsal, getting gradually, as we advance, longer and flatter. 



The facets for the attachment of the ten ribs are situated on the posterior 

 side of the diapophyses. These latter processes in the first six dorsals are 

 directed still forward, gradually assuming a straighter position, which is 

 first obtained in the seventh. 



Lumbar vertehrce 12 

 Caudal ,, 18 



Their form and dimensions agree so fully with the description of 

 B. rostrata, that I need not repeat it here. 

 There are consequently 48 vertebrae in all. 



Chevron hones. 

 There are ten chevron bones, of which the second is the largest. 

 They resemble very much in their form those of the skeleton of B. rostrata 

 in the " Osteographie des Cetaces " by Van Beneden and Gervais, plates 

 XII. and XIII., where, however, only eight are figured, although they state 

 that there are nine. 



The two last chevron bones of the New Zealand skeleton have the 

 two lateral disc-like parts of which they consist, not united in the mesial 

 line. 



They are small, especially the last one between the 10th and 11th caudal, 

 which is only i inch long and J inch high. 



It was fixed to the cartilage, and did not touch the lower edge of either 

 vertebra. 



Baleen. 

 Owing to the care of Mr. Joseph Day, who has presented this skeleton 

 to the Museum, the baleen remained uninjured, and I was thus able to 

 place it again into its proper position in the skull. 



There are 220 plates on each side, of which six to eight form the 

 fringe in front of the nose, unitmg both sides. 



As I had one of the sides (the right one) photographed, I am thus 

 enabled to offer a faithful representation of this characteristic portion of the 

 skull (Plate III.). 



The baleen is white. 



The first 150 plates, counting from the posterior end, have generally a 

 black edge gradually shading off towards the middle of the blade on the 

 outer side from the base half-way upwards. 



Beginning with a length of about 2 inches at the gape they rapidly in- 

 crease in size, till, at the 56th from the posterior end, they are 9^ inches 

 long, with a breadth of 3 inches. 



