37O ZIPHIUS CHAP. 



Ziphius is a genus which is also of world-wide range. Here 

 again the number of species is at present merely a matter of 

 opinion. The prevalent impression, however, is that but a 

 single species exists, which will therefore have the name of 

 Z. cavirostris. The genus (and for the matter of that the species 

 too) may be thus characterised in comparison with its allies. 

 The mesethmoid is ossified as in Mesoplodon, but the nasals joined 

 together form the vertex of the skull. There are two teeth near 

 the symphysis of the mandible, besides the usual small and 

 " functionless " teeth in the upper jaw. The vertebral formula is 

 C 7, D 9 or 10, L 11, Ca 21. 



The throat of a Ziphius from New Zealand was described by 

 Messrs. Scott and Parker l as having three grooves on each side. 

 Whether this form is the same as von Haast's Z. novae zelandiae 

 is a matter of doubt ; but the individual to which his name has 

 been applied was 26 feet long, and had but a single groove on 

 each side. Even in the external characters of many Whales many 

 points require clearing up. Our knowledge of Ziphius dates from 

 the year 1804, when a skull " completely petrified in appearance " 

 was picked up upon the Mediterranean coast of France, and 

 described by the great Cuvier. It was forty years before another 

 specimen was found. In the New Zealand specimen of von 

 Haast already referred to, the body was scored by numerous 

 lacerations. These wounds may have been due to fights among 

 the Whales themselves ; the for wardly- situated teeth would be 

 capable of inflicting such wounds. But it has also been stated 

 that the armed suckers of gigantic cuttle-fish are responsible for 

 these scratches. 



Hyperoodon is the most easily - distinguishable genus of 

 Ziphioid Whales. Its characters are the following : The skull 

 has enormously-developed maxillary crests in the adult male ; the 

 mesethmoid is not fully ossified. There is but a single tooth to 

 each ramus of the lower jaw, besides, of course, the usual small 

 teeth in the upper jaw. The vertebral formula is C 7, D 9, L 9, 

 Ca 18. The cervicals are fused into one mass, more or fewer 

 being free in other Ziphioids. The sternum consists of three 

 pieces only, the last of which is bifid posteriorly. 



The name Hyperoodon was given to this Whale by Colonel 

 Lacepede on account of the rough papillae upon the palate, which 



1 Trans. Zool. Sot. xii. 1889, p. 241. 



