Sheppard : Notes on the Skeleton of Sibbald's Rorqual. 237 



P. ahtiquorum it is usually longest in the second, and obsolete 

 in the fourth.' 



' The phalanges of the dig-its of both skeletons are articulated 

 artificially, and yet they correspond exactly in number and 

 arrangement, except that the Hull specimen has an additional 

 bone on digit III. The numbers are : — II., 4 ; III., 5 (Utrecht), 

 6 (Hull); IV., 5; V., 3 — an arrangement differing somewhat 

 from that of P. antiquoruni. But one of the most striking and 

 characteristic differences in this part of the skeleton is the 

 greater length of the metacarpal bones and phalanges, which in 

 both the Hull and Utrecht specimens, not only relatively but 

 even actually, exceed those of the full-grown P. antiquoruni, 

 70 feet in length.' 



' The baleen [or ' whalebone '] is not preserved in the Utrecht 

 specimen ; but in the Hull skeleton it is in excellent condition, 

 and shows a striking difference from that of the common species 

 in being of a uniform deep black, instead of dark olive-brown 

 or horn colour, variegated towards the ends of the series with 

 patches and stripes of a lighter colour.' 



It will be seen from the above quotations that Professor 

 Flower most carefully compared the two skeletons of Physalus 

 sibbaldii then known, and found many striking points of 

 resemblance. 



In the year following Professor Flower's visit to Hull (i.e., in 

 1866), the second edition of the 'Catalogue of Seals and Whales 

 in the British Museum,' by Dr. Gray, was published. It con- 

 tains (on page 160) a very similar account of the Hull skeleton 

 to that previously given by Dr. Gray, referred to at the com- 

 mencement of these notes. This Catalogue is also illustrated 

 by Mr. Harrison's two drawings of the cervical vertebrae. The 

 following additional information, however, is supplied : — 'The 

 lower jaw strong, with a conical, large, well-developed ramus. 

 . . . Breast bone wanting. . . . The articulating surfaces 

 of the cervical vertebrae are oblong, transverse, much broader 

 than high.' In reference to this it should- be stated that a model 

 of the sternum, or breast bone, as nearly accurate as can be 

 estimated, appears in place of the missing one, in the Hull 

 skeleton. Accompanying Dr. Gray's description is the following 

 note, signed ' R. Harrison,' of Hull : — 'The form of the head is 

 much like that of Ravin's figure of the skull of P. antiqnorum. 

 It is 10 feet 10 inches long, 4 feet 8 inches wide at the orbits, 

 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.' 



1901 August 2. 



