44 



B. LÖNNBERG, CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FAUNA OF SOUTH GEORGIA. 



was 1,80 m. (Pl. VI fig. 29). In the same specimen the distance from the end of the 

 tail to the pelvic bones was, measured in a straight line, 4 m. 23 cm. i 



Every specimen of Black whale examined, and, no doubt, every specimen exist- 

 ing, had on top of the head the peculiar excrescence known among whalers as the 

 »bonnet». It is well conspicuous in situ in the figures 30, 31, 32 and 34 on Pl. VII 



although the whales in all 

 these figures are represen- 

 ted lying on their back. 

 It may be concluded from 

 these figures that the »bon- 

 net» has a considerable 

 size. A vertical section 

 through the »bonnet» some- 

 what to the side of the 

 median line is reproduced 

 in Va nat. size on Pl. X 

 fig. 44 and the same piece 

 cut off through this sec- 

 tion, and seen from above 

 is represented in Pl. XI fig. 

 45 in about 2 / 5 nat. size. 

 Through these two figures 

 it may be proved that the 

 »bonnet» is not only on 

 excrescence of the epiderm 

 but that its base and 

 centre are formed by a 

 thick cushion of coarse 

 fibrous connective tissue 

 belonging to the subcu- 

 taneous layers and of course 

 containing a lot of fat or 

 blubber as well. At the 

 upper surface of this cen- 

 tral cushion the cutis emits 

 very long and slender, clo- 

 sely set papillse into the black epidermis. The length of these papillse, on this verti- 

 cal section which is parallel with them, varies between 3 and 18 mm. and the va- 

 riation in length stånds of course in connection with the depth of the epithelial layers 

 in each place. On top of this stratum, which contains these long papillse, follows a 

 laycr of unmixed and completely black epiderm. But in consequence of the fact 



1 Full descriptions and figures of these bones will be published in a låter report together with the 

 report on the osteology of this species compared with that of the Nordcaper. 



Fig. 4 A. 

 B Outline 



Outline of the pectoral fin of a foetus of southern Black whale; 

 of one of the caudal flukes of the same, reduced to less than 

 76 nat. size. 



