BEAKED WHALES 219 



This whale was placed in a separate genus 

 (Oulodon) by von Haast on account of the fact that 

 the upper jaw is provided, as are the jaws of other 

 Ziphioid whales, with a row, nineteen on each side, 

 of small teeth entirely unconnected with bone, and 

 without any traces of sockets on the bone of the jaw. 

 It is doubtful, however, whether this character can be 

 used to distinguish a genus since in M. bidens there 

 are similar teeth in both jaws,* and the same may be 

 the case with other species of the genus, although 

 there is, according to Sir W. Flower, "no evidence 

 of the presence of any such teeth in M, australis or 

 M. hectori" 



In Mesoplodon aitstralis of Flowert (which is the 

 same as M. kectori in part), the rostrum is narrow 

 at the base ; basirostral groove present ; foramina of 

 fifth nerve one behind the other. Tooth near hinder 

 edge of symphysis. 



This species was founded by Sir W. Flower upon 

 a skeleton which Dr. Hector had referred to M. 

 hectori. It would appear from the above definition 

 to be nearer to M. densirostris. But there are points 

 which serve to separate it from that species. The 

 most obvious is the fact that in M. densirostris the 

 palatines completely surround the anterior ends of the 

 pterygoids ; in M. australis the former lie altogether 

 outside the latter. 



The occurrence of these teeth in the upper jaw is, however, denied 

 by GRIEG, Bergens Mus. Aarbog., 1897. 

 t Trans. Zool, Soc., x., p. 417, 



