The Annals 



of 



Scottish Natural History 



No. 9] 1894 [JANUARY 



* 



NOTE ON THE SKELETON OF A SPECIMEN OF 

 RISSO'S GRAMPUS (GRAMPUS GRISEUS}. 



By R. H. TRAQUAIR, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S. 



IN the " Annals of Scottish Natural History " for January 

 1893, p. I, Mr. R. Service records the occurrence of two 

 specimens of Risso's Grampus Grampus griseiis (Cuv.) in 

 the Solway Firth. One of the specimens that stranded near 

 Carsethorn Mr. Service was able to examine in its entirety, 

 and to his good offices the Museum of Science and Art is 

 indebted for the opportunity of obtaining its skeleton. 



The bones, roughly divested of the flesh, were forwarded 

 to Edinburgh, and have been prepared in the Natural 

 History workshop of the museum. Unfortunately, the hyoid 

 and pelvic bones were found to be missing, while the sternum 

 was slightly injured ; otherwise the skeleton is perfect. It 

 is now exhibited in the Mammalian collection of the Museum. 



The specimen when recent measured, according to Mr. 

 Service, 8 feet in length, but the length of the mounted 

 skeleton is only 7 feet 5 inches ; the difference being due to 

 the shrinkage of the intervertebral disks in drying, as well as 

 to the fact that the caudal termination of the vertebral column 

 does not reach quite to the posterior margin of the tail flap. 



The skeleton is that of a young individual (female) ; 

 9 B 



