SPERM WHALES 191 



a very low dorsal fin. Nothing of its osteology is 

 known except a portion of the lower jaw. The teeth 

 in this are rather long and curved back, but it would 

 be rash to allow the species to be a certainly settled 

 one in the absence of further information. 



It seems to be very doubtful whether Kogia grayi 

 can be regarded as a distinct species. It is identified 

 by Gray with K. simus of Owen, an identification 

 with which I cannot agree (assuming, of course, that 

 the descriptions of Macleay and of Owen are to be 

 depended upon). It seems to be much more likely 

 that the supposed K. grayi is merely K. breviceps. 

 Dr. Gray made a great point of the marked ridge 

 which divides the postnarial region of the skull, 

 utilising its marked or less marked character to 

 separate the two "genera" Kogia and Euphysetes. 

 The difference does not seem to exist between 

 K. breviceps and K. grayi. 



There might appear at first sight to be one more 

 rib in K. grayi than in K. breviceps. But that this 

 is actually the case does not seem to be perfectly 

 clear. After mentioning " dorsal vertebrae 14 " 

 Macleay goes on to write to the following effect : 

 ' The first rib, etc. . . . the seven following, etc. . . . 

 the next five." This looks as if thirteen were the total 

 number, as in K. breviceps. The fact that in Kogia 

 grayi the first rib is only attached to the first dorsal and 

 not to the last cervical also may be perhaps explained 

 by the existence of a ligamentous connection and 

 by youth. The smaller number of phalanges too 



