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THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol. XL 



fused cervicals as three while both Van Benedeii ('64) and 

 Dumortier ('39) agree in stating that the first two only were 

 fused in the Ostend 1835 example. The fusion of the first two is 

 thus apparently the more usual condition. In the Annisquam 

 whale the epiphyses of the fourth and fifth cervical vertebne and 

 the anterior epiphysis of the sixth ccr\ ica! are fused to their respec- 

 tive centra, but all the other epi]>hyses of the vertebral column and 

 of the pectoral limbs are free. 



The Annisquam skeleton has nine dorsal vertebra? with their 

 corresponding pairs of ribs, a number which agrees with that of at 

 least four recorded skeletons though ten pairs of ribs are recorded 

 in case of five others (Rugsund, 1901; Karmo, 1895; Shetland, 

 1885; Skager Rack, 1869; Ostend, 1835). 



The sternum of this specimen presents a few points of interest. 

 It consists of four pieces, the anteriormost of which is largest, 

 slightly hollowed above, and correspondingly convex below. The 

 three remaining pieces are nearly flat, with a deep median notch 

 at the anterior and posterior border of each. The most posterior 

 piece evidently represents a fusion of the elements of two segments 

 as there are articular surfaces for two pairs of ribs. Both the 

 Karmo specimens (Grieg, '98) had sterna of four pieces and in 

 each the fourth or most posterior piece seems to show articulating 

 surfaces for tw.. pairs of ribs. Apparently in these the very small 

 sternal el.-nient> ..f each si<ie rorre^pondino- to tlu> fifth pair of ril)s 

 fused with the next anteri..r sternal segment but .lid not fuse me.h- 

 ally with each other, so that a deep notch is left in the j)osterior 

 margin of the last sternal piece. In the male Karmo specimen 

 the notch is nearly closed posteriorly indicating a medial approxi- 



