Hectoe. — Xotea on the Wholes of the Xew Zealand Seaft. 335 



College of Surgeons Museum, London, the number varies from 56 to 59. 

 But Cuvier's original description of the Cape whale gives the number 

 of vertebree as 49, with 14 chevron bones ;* and it is probable that the 

 number of rudimentary tail bones is unimportant, as they are very likely 

 overlooked in some cases, and left enclosed ua the tough caudal integu- 

 ment when the skeleton is being stripped. 



As the whalers only recognize one kind of black whale, which is com- 

 mon throughout all southern seas, and there is no difference in habits, 

 food, or distribution in latitude observable among them, it does not seem 

 necessary in the present state of our knowledge that the New Zealand and 

 the Cape species should be considered as different. 



Note. — 27th Feb. Since wiiting the above, I have had an opportunity of visiting the 

 Otago Museum, and I find that the skeleton of E. australis above referred to is evidently 

 incomplete, and that the number of vertebrae is not to be taken as a reliable character. 



Measukements. Ft. In. 



Total length .. .. .. 29 1 



Length of skull 

 Width, orbital 



,, exoccipital 

 Height of arch of skull 

 The vertebral column as mounted consists of — Cervical, 7; dorsal, 15; lumbar, 10; 

 and caudal, 22 ; but the latter region is imperfect, and is partially restored artificially. 



The condition of the cervical region is interesting. The first to the fifth segments 

 are united by the spinous processes and laminae ; and the third and fourth, on the left 

 side only, by the tips of the inferior lateral i^rocesses. Otherwise the vertebra are 

 distinct. 



Only 14 pairs of ribs have been mounted, but, as they are not in relative position, 

 the number is probably also erroneous, and should, from the appearance of the vertebra, 

 be 15 on each side. 



Only a few of the chevrons are present, but, to judge from the presence of facets for 

 then' attachment to the centra, they were 13 in number, being attached fi-om the 33rd to 

 the 46th vertebrte. The 39th to the 45th have the lateral processes perforated, but the 

 characters of the caudal region are not reliable. 



The scapula agrees with that of E. australis in the Paris Museum, and not with E. 

 antipodarum, in hanng a well-developed acromion process. 



In the same museum is a skull and the scapula of another specimen of this whale, 

 but of much larger dimensions, which agree in thek characters with the foregoing. 



8. MeGAPTEEA LALANDn. 



Megaptera lalandii, Fischer ; v. Beneden and Gervais, Osteog., 133. 

 Poescopia lalandii, Gray ; Cat. S. and W., 126. 



Megaptera novce-zealandice, Gray, Cat. S. and W,, 128 ; Hector, Trans. N.Z. 

 Inst., V. 156, VII., 255. 

 Although the humpback is the most common whale round our coasts, a 

 complete skeleton of a New Zealand specimen is still a desideratum. From 



* Gray, Cat. S. and W., p. 92. 



7 3 



5 6 



2 6 



3 4 



