266 LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Part II. WHALES :— 
CETACEA. 
Sub-Order I. MYSTACOCETI. 
Family 1. BaL#Nipé. 
Megaptera longimana, Rudolphi. 
On July 17th, 1863, a large specimen of a whale was 
observed by some fishermen stranded on a sand-bank at 
Speke. Its struggles were so evident that no boatmen 
durst venture near it: all they could do for a length of 
time was to keep an eye on it. When dead it was secured 
with ropes and towed to the shore. I visited it on the 
29nd, made an external examination, and took correct 
measurements, as under. It was lying on its back, a 
position very favorable for examination of the under surface, 
but hiding all view of the blowers. I believed it to be a 
specimen of ‘‘ Johnston’s Hump-backed Whale, Megaptera — 
longimana,”’ of Dr. Gray’s ‘‘ Catalogue,” 1850, p, 26, and 
it would appear to have been up to that date only once 
before observed on the British coast, namely, at Newcastle, 
by Dr. Johnston, and it is remarkable that both specimens 
were females. 
The dimensions are :— Et, lige 
Total length in a straight line, from 
snout to clett.ot tail n.-ee- eee eee ol 4 
Length of gape, about............. <a eeee oh ee 
IAGRONAM, VO VOMENTOY TIBVS) AVE. oscopoopsaccansocs-- 82420 
liensth-of theeye sai. ...hn-. s.o.eeneneee 0-3 
From snout to commencement of pec- 
bora “fia. acyl ieee oon eee eee fe FO) 
tijenothvor pectoral tinkeee. mere Rererreeeee LO. 30 
Extreme width of tail at the tip ......... Lt 30) 

