The two skeletons (4) and (5) are somewhat incomplete. The Museum received a photograph of the female from Maj. Ezra W. Clark.
(6) Cat. No. 49725.—Skeleton and two photographs of an adult male (?) stranded on Centerville beach near Ferndale, Humboldt County, California, October, 1904. Length, about 41 feet.
A brief note on the St. George Island and California skeletons was published by the author in Science for 1904.[51] The dimensions given by the collectors were so large as to raise doubts whether they were correct, but the arrival of the skeletons proved that they were not overstated, and that the specimens were by far the largest ziphioid whales ever discovered, the bones about equaling those of a humpback whale in size and massiveness.
HISTORY OF THE ST. GEORGE ISLAND SPECIMENS.
The St. George Island specimens were first made known by Mr. James Judge, special agent of the Treasury Department, resident at the Pribilof Islands, in a letter dated June 16, 1903, as follows:
I was much surprised the other day to find a pair of whales ashore near East Rookery [St. George Island]. They lay about 150 yards apart. The female was 40 feet 2 inches, the male 25 feet 5 inches in length. The species is not positively identified, but tallies closely with the Globe Encyclopedia description of Bottlehead or Bottlenose whale, Hyperodoön bidentatus. Natives call it “Tcha-dhan.” The male is without teeth; female has two teeth in front of lower jaw.[52] The skin is thin, smooth, white underneath, and black above. Dorsal fin small and well aft. Caudal large and powerful. Eyes very small. Ears not visible.
Thinking that the skeleton might be of use, the bones of the female were cut out and placed high and dry on the grass. Four ribs were broken; otherwise the bones are intact. The male was towed to East Landing, and with the aid of a capstan deposited beyond reach of surf. Some blubber was saved. The foxes will clean up the bones during August, so that in all probability both skeletons will be available this fall. * * * I inclose some measurements, taken roughly, with a 5-foot tape line.
Whale measurements, June 11, 1903.
| Female. | Male. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ft. | in. | Ft. | in. | |
| Greatest length | 40 | 2 | 25 | 5 |
| Greatest circumference (much bloated) | 20 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Extremity of upper lip to nostril | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Distance between eyes | 4 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Extremity of lower lip to angle of mouth | 2 | 5 | 1 | 9 |
| Circumference of head at eyes | 8 | 10 | 7 | 0 |
| Lower half of snout 10 inches from end | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| Upper half of snout 12 inches from end | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Length of [pectoral] fin along outer edge | 5 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Circumference of tail [at] junction [with] caudal fin | 5 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Distance between extreme points of caudal fin | 10 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Anus to end of body | 11 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Anus to vagina | 1 | 2 | ... | ... |
| Anus to penis | ... | ... | 1 | 8 |
| Length of vagina | 1 | 3 | ... | ... |
| Length of penis | ... | ... | 1 | 9 |
| Penis at base | ... | ... | 1 | 5 |
| Height of dorsal fin | 0 | 12 | 0 | 7½ |
| Dorsal fin along spine to end of body | 11 | 11 | 7 | 5 |
| Length of nipple from raised base | 0 | 1 | ... | ... |
The skeletons remained on the island until August, 1904, when they were carried by the revenue cutter McCulloch to Dutch Harbor and afterwards to San Francisco. Through a misunderstanding they were allowed to remain on the beach at St. George Island until November, 1903, and suffered considerable injury. On that date they were deposited in a storehouse by Maj. Ezra W. Clark, assistant treasury agent in charge, who afterwards presented the photograph of the female above mentioned. ([Pl. 42], fig. 1.) The latter shows the short, narrow, pointed pectoral fin, and long, rather slender beak.
Another specimen of Berardius was found stranded on St. George Island on August 21, 1909. The following information regarding it was received from Maj. Ezra W. Clark, under date of September 4, 1909: