CHAPTER IX. 



BEAKED WHALES 



FAMILY, ZIPH1IDAE 



ANOTHER group is formed by the Ziphioid 

 A\. whales, which should perhaps be only regarded 

 as a sub-family Ziphiinae. The whales of this sub- 

 family or family are of moderate size, not exceeding 



-so far as we know from actual measurement a 

 little over thirty feet. They are also fairly rare, and 

 seem for the most part to live singly, so that their 

 bodies have been but rarely thrown up upon the 

 shore. Moreover, they seem to be most prevalent 

 in the southern hemisphere ; hence their occurrences 

 would be far likelier upon the great stretches of 

 desolate coasts which abound in the southern half of 

 the globe to go unnoticed. Their rarity at present 

 contrasts with the relative abundance which once 

 obtained on the surface of the earth. This leads, 

 remarks Sir W. Flower, "to the belief that the 

 existing Ziphioids are the survivors of an ancient 

 family which once played a far more important part 

 than now among the Cetacean inhabitants of the 

 ocean, but which have been gradually replaced by 

 other forms, and are themselves probably destined 

 ere long to share the fate of their once numerous 



2IO 



