NATURAL HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA 



but none have been known to occur in the Cape 

 Seas until a specimen was washed up in the flesh 

 S.E, of Cape Receife outside of Algoa Bay, at a 

 spot known as Shell Bay, in April 1910. This is 

 the first recorded specimen from the Southern 

 Seas, and the only one up to the present from the 

 seas off our coasts. It was carefully measured and 

 photographed before being carved up. The com- 

 plete skeleton is on exhibition in the Port Elizabeth 

 Museum. The specimen when in the flesh was 

 black all over, and the skin was as thin as paper. 

 The body was covered with blubber, which was 

 2 inches deep on the back, and i| inches on the 

 sides and abdomen. It was an adult, and measured 

 15 feet 6 inches total length. 



The other measurements are as follows : tail 

 from tip to tip 52 inches ; flipper 20 inches ; from 

 tip of beak to eye 27 inches ; gape 16 inches. Lower 

 jaw protrudes i inch beyond upper jaw. Circum- 

 ference at middle of body 8 feet. From anterior 

 of fin on the back to centre of tail 6 feet 7 inches. 

 Height of back fin 8 inches. A single pair of teeth 

 in the lower jaw. These are set deep in the bone, 

 and the exposed portion is' enamelled. The two 

 teeth are of the same size and shape. They are 

 zi inches wide, 2f inches long, tV inch thick. 

 The conical points are vertical. 



222 



