Cetacea. 7123 



by callipers); at 3 feet from lip, 13|^ inches; and where most con- 

 tracted posterior to the coronoid, 15 inches only ; extreme depth, at 

 coronoid process (inclusively), 26'f inches. From middle of coronoid 

 to summit of condyle posteriorly, in a direct line, 37| inches. The 

 shaft of the ramus is more approxiraalively of the same thickness 

 throughout than in Balaena mysticetus, tapering quite evenly. 



The radius is 38f inches long, nearly similar in shape to, but is more 

 curved than, that of Megaptera poeskop. The shape of this bone in 

 Balaena (as figured by Cuvier) is remarkably different. 



The rib is proportionally small, measuring only 8 feet 2 inches round 

 its curvature to superior articulation. It is probably the third of the 

 series, on the right side. 



Of the five vertebrae two are dorsal about the 6th and 7th ; but they 

 have been much hacked and are mutilated of their processes. Body 

 of the vertebra (hind sm-face) 11|^ inches deep by 15 inches broad. 

 A lumbar vertebra, probably the first, has the body (measured pos- 

 teriorly) 13|^ by 16^ inches broad; antero-posterior diameter, 14 inches; 

 spinal apophysis 27 inches or a trifle more, allowing for the extreme 

 tip which is broken off) measured from the front, and sloping back- 

 ward at an angle of nearly 45°.* Another lumbar vertebra, probably 

 the 3th or 6th, with spinal apophysis 8 inches in antero-posterior 

 diameter, and lateral processes 12 inches long and 8| inches broad. 

 Lastly, a caudal (?) vertebra (I mean one of the series with inferior 

 V-bones attached ; not one of the small caudal that support the tail- 

 flukes) about the 4th ; the body (posteriorly) 15 by 17|- inches broad. 



In the * Asiatic Researches,' vol. xv. Appendix, p. 34, " a large jaw- 

 bone of a whale " is recorded as having been presented by Mr. J. Kyd. 

 It was only the basal portion of one, and is now much injured by long 

 exposure to the weather out-of-doors ; but it appears to have belonged 

 to a rather smaller individual of the same species, which I think we 

 may safely venture on designating Baltenoptera indica. 



In 'Asiatic Researches,' vol. xvii. p. 624, " the vertebrae and cranium 

 of a whale" are recorded as presented by G. Swinton, Esq. These are 

 are now much damaged, and mostly valueless, from long exposure to 

 all weathers — the result of want of accommodation for such bulky speci- 

 cimens in our excessively over-crowded museum building. The length 

 of this whale was about 30 feet, of which the head was about a fourth. 



* In the figure of the skeleton of the great northern rorqual in the volume on 

 Cetacea in Jardine's ' Naturalist's Library,' pi. 5., the apophyses of the dorsal vertebra; 

 are represented to slope forwards ! 



