5. PHTSAIUS. 161 



" The form of the head is much like that of Bavin's figure of the 

 Bkull of P. antiquorum. It is 10 feet 10 inches long, 4 feet 8 inches 

 wide at the orhits, and 2 feet 9 inches wide at the base of the beak. 

 The lower jaw is 9 feet 8 inches long without allowing for the 

 curves." — B. Harrison. 



Firmer Whales that have been only imperfectly noticed. 



1. Fhysalus? austraUs. The Southern Finner. 



Balaena Quoyii, Fischer, Syn, 526. 



Balsena rostrata australis, Desmmdins, Diet. Class. H. N. ii. 166. 



Balsenoptera australis, Chray, Zool. E. 8f T. 51. 



Balsenoptera australis, Southern Rorqual or Finback, Nunn. Narrat. 



Favourite, 18.3, fig. 

 Physalus ? australis. Gray, Cat. Cetae. B. M. 1850, 44. 



Inhab. Falkland Islands (Quay). 



Desmoulins (Diet. Class. H. N. ii. 164), under the name of Balcena 

 rostrata australis, describes a whale seen by M. Quoy on the shores 

 of the Falkland Islands, which he says was exactly like B. Physalus. 

 It was 55 feet long, and the pectoral fin 6 feet 3 inches — that is, 

 about one-eighth of the. entire length, the same as in Balamoptera 

 Physalus; but he says the dorsal fin was over the male organ — a 

 character which, as far as I know, is pecidiar to the Humpback 

 Whale {Megaptera) — thus presenting a combination of characters 

 which, if correct, wiU not only prove it to be -a distinct species, but 

 one forming a section by itself. 



Lesson (Tab. Regne Anim. i. 202) gives the name of Balamoptera 

 australis to the " Fin-back of the whalers of the South Sea." It is 

 most probably intended for this species, as Falkland Islands is given 

 for the habitat; but it may be Megaptera Poeskop, or perhaps a 

 confusion of the two. 



" The Fin-backed Whale of Desolation, near Kerguelen's Land, is 

 about 30 feet long. The whalebone short. The dorsal fin is arched 

 backwards, nearly over the pectoral, or, some fishermen say, a little 

 behind the middle of the back. The upper surface is black, lighter 

 beneath. The spout is single, much higher than that of the Eight 

 Whale (Balcena) in the same latitude." — Nunn's Narrative. The 

 figures, after the drawings of the whalers, represent the body only 

 as rather more than three times the length of the head. 



" From the description I have received of the Fin-fish {Balomo- 

 ptera B/orqudl), which often appears in the bays of both the western 

 and eastern coasts of Africa, I feel disposed to regard it as the 

 Borquni. It may, however, prove to be a different species when 

 those who can note its characters shall have an opportunity of ex- 

 amining a dead specimen. It is here rarely attacked by the fishers, 

 being considered dangerous, and of little value from its yielding but 

 a small proportion of oil. About twelve years ago one was killed 

 in Table Bay which measured 95 feet." — A. Smith, African Quarts 

 Journ.lQO. 



