| I. | II. | III. | IV. | V. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. europæus, Atlantic City: | |||||
| Left | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3+ | 3+ |
| Right | 2 | 7 | 6 | 4(+1?) | 4 |
| M. bidens: | |||||
| Landenæs | 1 | 6(5) | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Fæø | 1 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Udsire | 1 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
In M. europæus the metacarpal of the third digit is much constricted in the middle. The shaft of the ulna is straight. Except in these particulars and the relatively small size of the whole pectoral limb, the latter appears not to differ materially from that of M. bidens. As shown above, the first digit in M. bidens consists of the metacarpal bone only, while in M. europæus a phalange is also present.
Dimensions of the skeleton of the Atlantic City specimen of M. europæus, No. 23846, U.S.N.M.
| mm. | |
|---|---|
| Length of the seven cervical vertebræa | 94 |
| Length of first, second, and third cervical vertebræa | 45 |
| Atlas: | |
| Greatest breadth | 156 |
| Greatest height | 103 |
| Height of neural canal | 36 |
| Greatest breadth across anterior articular facets | 96 |
| Axis, greatest breadth | 144 |
| Seventh cervical vertebra: | |
| Greatest breadth | 80 |
| Greatest height without inferior process | 117 |
| Greatest length of centrum | 14 |
| Greatest height of neural canal | 49 |
| First thoracic vertebra: | |
| Greatest height | 151 |
| Greatest breadth | 136 |
| Height of centrum | 37 |
| Length of centrum | 21 |
| Breadth of centrum (articular surface) | 48 |
| Height of neural spine | 61 |
| Height of neural canal | 53 |
| Seventh thoracic vertebra: | |
| Greatest height | 246 |
| Greatest breadth | 116 |
| Height of centrum | 35 |
| Length of centrum | 69 |
| Breadth of centrum | 46 |
| Breadth between transverse processes | 66 |
| Eighth thoracic vertebra: | |
| Greatest height | 246 |
| Greatest breadth (between transverse processes) | 142 |
| Height of centrum | 39 |
| Length of centrum | 73 |
| Breadth of centrum | 47 |
| First lumbar vertebra: | |
| Greatest height | 263 |
| Greatest breadth (between transverse processes) | 215 |
| Height of centrum (anterior) | 43 |
| Length of centrum | 83 |
| Breadth of centrum | 53 |
| First caudal vertebra: | |
| Greatest height | 263 |
| Greatest breadth (between transverse processes) | 207 |
| Height of centrum (anterior) | 65 |
| Length of centrum | 113 |
| Breadth of centrum | 67 |
| Seventh caudal vertebra: | |
| Greatest height | 153 |
| Greatest breadth | 87 |
| Height of centrum (without hypapophysis) | 66 |
| Length of centrum | 84 |
| Breadth of centrum | 70 |
| Length of last 10 caudal vertebræ | 285 |
| Sternum: | |
| Total length | 404 |
| Length of manubrium | 165 |
| Greatest breadth of manubrium | 134 |
| Depth of anterior notch of manubrium | 37 |
| Scapula: | |
| Length | 247 |
| Depth | 161 |
| Length of acromion | b44 |
| Length of coracoid | 59 |
| Humerus, length | 107 |
| Radius, length | 110 |
| Ulna, length | 100 |
| Pelvic bones, length | 51 |
a Placed in contact. b From the inside, without the cartilaginous tip.
HISTORY OF THE ATLANTIC CITY SPECIMEN.
Regarding the finding of the Atlantic City specimen and its exterior and gross anatomy, nothing has been published except brief references by Sir William Turner in 1889[25] and Dr. Glover M. Allen in 1906,[26] taken from a newspaper report of a communication made by myself before the Biological Society of Washington in 1889. On that account a somewhat detailed statement regarding it will be made in this place.
This individual ([Pl. 41], figs. 1, 2) was a male, 12½ feet long. It was observed by the crew of life-saving station No. 28, near Atlantic City, New Jersey, on the afternoon of March 28, 1889. It had come inside the bar which skirts the coast at this point, and was apparently unable to find its way out. It was captured with some difficulty, after being wounded in the throat, and was dragged up on the beach near the station. Later in the day it was carried to the skating rink of Messrs. Johnson & McShea, at Atlantic City, where it was exhibited until Monday, April 1. On the next morning it was sent by express to Washington.
I examined it for the first time in Atlantic City on March 29. It was then lying on the floor of the skating rink in such a position that the under surfaces were concealed, and, as the teeth were not visible, I mistook it for a female. Upon its arrival in Washington, however, where it could be examined under more favorable circumstances, it proved to be a male. The following measurements were taken from the fresh specimen:
External dimensions of a specimen of M. europæus from Atlantic City, New Jersey.