On some misinterpreted markings in the skin of the 
Caaing Whale. 
(The Fjelstrup “Pore Figures“.) 
By 
Ad. S. Jensen, 
Inspeclor at the Zoological Museum oT the Uuiversity, (^o|)euhageu. 
(Communicated at the meeting of 27th March 1914. 
In the annual report of the present journal for 1887 the lately 
deceased zoologist August Fjelstrup has described the structure 
of the skin of the “GrindehvaP' or Caaing Whale (Globiocephalus 
inelasj. The material for this treatise he had procured during a 
stay on the Faroe Islands, where he had witnessed the killing 
of a Caaing Whale-shoal of about 370 whales ^). 
More than ten years ago, with a view to my zoological tea- 
ching, I sought information as regards the structure of the skin of 
whales, and thus became acquainted with the Fjelstrup treatise. I 
thereby noticed that the author had not understood the correct 
nature of some peculiar markings in the skin of whales examined 
by him. I have waited since in the expectation that some cetolo- 
gist would notice the mistake and correct it, but this has not hap- 
pened; Fjelstrup is still being quoted, and the true interpretation 
is not approached any nearer. I am, therefore, of the opinion that 
I ought no longer to retain the correct explanation. 
The markings to which I refer are described by Fjelstrup in 
the following manner (1. c., p. 233); “In practically all the Caaing 
Whales killed in Midvaag I noticed on the skin, especially in the 
region of the lower and upper jaw, a number of circular pore 
’) Au g. Fjelstrup: Hudens Bygning hos Globiocephalus melas Viden¬ 
skabel. Meddel. Naturhist. Forening i Kjøbenhavn for 1887, p. 227 (1888\ 
Vidensk. Meddel, fra Dansk naturh. Foren. Bd. 67. 
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