148 BALiENOPTBEID^. 



18 inches wide and 14^ inches long. The transverse apophyses are 

 as broad as the body of tho vertebra, and the latter is oblong, half 

 as broad again as high. The lateral processes of the cervical ver- 

 tebrje are much longer than the width of the body of the vertebrae ; 

 the lateral process of the second cervical has a small, nearly central 

 perforation, and this perforation gradually becomes larger on each 

 succeeding vertebra, until it nearly occupies the whole disk of the 

 lateral process in the sixth ; the seventh being formed with only a 

 narrow elongated process from the upper edge, the lower process 

 being reduced into the form of a small tubercle. The ribs are 

 simple. The lumbar vertebrse are thick and large ; both these cha- 

 racters must render this Finner much more powerful and active in 

 the water than any of its allies. The lower jaw is 17 feet long ; 

 the blade-bone 32 inches by 51. The upper arm-bone is 20 inches 

 long by 10 J wide ; the lower arm-bone 31 inches long. The chest- 

 bone is 28 inches wide and 18 inches long. The lumbar vertebrje 

 are 11 inches long and 14 inches wide ; the first rib 59 iuches long 

 and 10^ inches wide at the sternal end. 



There is a nearly perfect skeleton of this species (which I some 

 years ago visited in company with Professor Eschricht) exhibited at 

 Black Gang Chine, in the Isle of Wight, which was caught in April 

 1842, near the Needles. When first found, it was dark grey above 

 and whitish beneath. 



The baleen is slate-coloured, with white streaks on the near or 

 inner side ; nearly black and with a few darker streaks near the 

 outer or straight side. It was 75 feet long. The skuU is 16 feet 

 7 inches long, 5 feet wide at the notch, and the edge of the beak 

 from the notch is 12 feet long ; the lower jaw 16 feet 9 inches ; the 

 upper arm-bone 2 feet, and the larger forearm-bone 33 inches long. 

 In this skeleton the scapula and the chest-bones are wrongly placed, 

 and the bones of the carpus and finger. The lower processes of 

 the vertebrse, as well as some of the smaller parts of the head, are 

 deficient. There are 7 cervical vertebrae ; the second very broad, 

 with a very large lateral process, on each side pierced with a hole 

 near the body; and the three following have a ring-like lateral 

 process. There are 14 thoracic vertebrae. The ribs are long ; the 

 first simple, shortish and broadish, the rest almost of equal size and 

 length, the last being very nearly as long as the others. The lumbar 

 vertebrae are 15, with considerably thicker bodies than the others. 

 Caudal vertebrae 18, exclusive of those contained in the fin of the 

 tail, which is preserved entire. 



The skeleton at Eosherville is said to be 70 feet long, and was 

 taken in the Hope Eeach in 1858 or 1859. The lateral process of 

 the second cervical is large, elongate, produced, obliquely truncated 

 at the upper edge ; the perforation is moderate, not half the length 

 of the process, on a line with the lower edge of the opening. The 

 lateral processes of the third, fotirth, fifth, and sixth cervical vertebrse 

 are narrow, ring-like, thin, with a large central cavity ; the seventh, 

 like the dorsal, has only an upper lateral process. Lower jaw 13 feet 

 long ; paddle 14 feet. 



