44
NOTES ON THE WHALE, RUDOLPHI'S RORQUAL,
The general colour of B. borealis is grayish, or bluish-black, which
becomes darker after death, with lighter spots or patches. Below
the margin of the lower jaw, the throat is white, which makes the
plications well marked, while cloudings of white and grayish-white,
varying in individuals, extend more or less along the belly. The
baleen in adults is always deep black, but some of the smaller blades
(and in younger specimens the whole of the wreath) are often clouded
or mottled with white.
Although several skeletons existed in Continental museums, the
only well-identified specimen in Great Britain up to 1883 was that
preserved in the Edinburgh University Anatomical Museum,described
by Professor (now Sir William) Turner in the "Journal of Anatomy and
Physiology" for April, 1882. In the above mentioned year (1883)
one was stranded in the Crouch River (Essex), and was described by
Prof. Flower in the "Proceedings of the Zoological Society" for
November 20th, 1883, and also in the "Transactions of the Essex
Field Club" (vol. iv., 3). In the next year one was stranded near
Goole, in the River Humber, the skeleton of which is preserved in the
Natural History Museum, South Kensington, but of which no notice
has hitherto been published. By the kind permission of Prof.
Flower, I have taken some measurements of the latter skeleton, and
am thus enabled to show, in the accompanying table, the comparative
sizes of these four British specimens.
2 The greatest length preserved, but probably not the full size.
3 In reply to my query about the sex, etc., of the Edinburgh skeleton, Sir William Turner
kindly writes me as follows :—" I am sorry that I cannot state definitely the sex of the specimen
of B. borealis which I described some years ago When I saw the carcase it had been flensed,
and was in such a condition that it was not possible to make a satisfactory examination. I am