64 



On the Anatomy of Balfenoptera rostrata. [June 20^ 



was fitted up, by means of wliicli a stream of atmospheric air could "be 

 heated to 260° C. in a globular glass vessel of the capacity of 5 litres. On 

 leaving this vessel, the air was passed through a TJ-tube, one metre in 

 length, whose sides were moistened internally with water, while the 

 tube itself was cooled by being immersed in a vessel of cold water. On 

 passing atmospheric air in a favourable state through this apparatus, 

 at the rate of three litres per minute, the test-paper was distinctly 

 tinged in two or three minutes, provided no heat was applied to the 

 glass globe. But when the temperature of the air, as it passed through 

 the globe, was maintained at 260° C, not the slightest action occurred 

 upon the test-paper, however long the current continued to pass. 

 Similar experiments with an artificial atmosphere of ozone, that is, with 

 the air of a large chamber containing a small quantity of electrolytic 

 ozone, gave precisely the same results. On the other hand, when small 

 quantities of chlorine or nitric acid vapour, largely diluted with air, 

 were drawn through the same apparatus, the test-paper was equally 

 afiected, whether the glass globe was heated or not. 



Erom these experiments I consider myself justified in concladiug 

 that the body in the atmosphere, which decomposes iodide of potassium, 

 is identical with ozone. 



XIV. " On the Anatomy of Balcenoptera rostrata, Fab.^^ By Alex- 

 ander Carte, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.S.L, F.L.S., M.R.I.A., &c., 

 and Alexander Macalister, M.D., L.B,.C.S.I._, Demonstrator 

 of Anatomy, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, &c. Com- 

 municated by W. H. Flower, Esq. Received June 20, 1 867. 



(Abstract.) 



In this paper the authors give an account of the dissection of a young 

 female of the Lesser Fin or Piked Whale, which was captured off 

 Clougher Head, Co. Louth, Ireland, on the 8th of May 1863. 



After describing its external form, and giving accurate measure- 

 ments of its various parts, the authors point out some difierences be- 

 tween the relative sizes and positions of the organs of the animal as 

 contrasted with similar parts of those of the same species which have 

 been recorded by previous writers, especially as regards the position of 

 the dorsal fin, which appendage seems to vary in situation in difi'erent 

 individuals ; and show, that consequently no value, as indicative of 

 species, ought to be attached to its relative position. 



This is followed by a description of the osteology of the animal ; and 

 attention is drawn to the fact that the body of the axis vertebra is com- 

 posed, in part, by the displaced body of the atlas, showing that what at 

 present forms the upper half of the centrum of the axis, is in reality the 

 centrum of the atlas. 



