274 A BOOK OF' WHALES 



II, (6), 7. Ill, 6-8. IV, 3. V, i, (2). Fins falcate. 

 Beak distinct. 



Of this genus again the exact number of species 

 is at present a matter of opinion rather than of 

 certainty. Sir W. Flower is doubtful whether there 

 are more than two. Mr. True allows and defines 

 five. The genus is universal in range. Ten feet 

 is about the limit of size reached. It seems difficult 

 to give anything like satisfactory definitions of more 

 than the type species. Gray's T. catalama, which 

 is allowed by both Sir W. Flower and Mr. True, 

 is mainly to be distinguished by colour ; it is said to 

 be "a very light lead colour above and on the sides, 

 gradually passing into the dirty leaden white of the 

 lower parts, which were covered, as also the flippers, 

 with longitudinally elongated blotches of dark lead 

 colour." It has twenty-five teeth in each jaw instead 

 of twenty-three ; but are these points to be relied 

 upon as distinguishing it ? True thinks that it may 

 be the same as Riippel's T, abusalam. This whale 

 has the upper surface sea-green, of a dark hue, instead 

 of lead colour. It has twenty-six teeth and fewer 

 vertebrae, the formula being : C. 7 ; D. 12; L. 1 6 ; 

 Ca. 26 = 61. It is from the Red Sea, while T. 

 catalania is Australian. As to the difference in the 

 vertebral formula, Mr. True has pointed out that a 

 specimen of T. tursio in the British Museum has but 

 twelve ribs, and another but sixty-one vertebrae 

 altogether. Its differences from T, tursio are at 

 most but slight. 



