280 A BOOK OF' WHALES 



The genus GLOB1CEPHALUS* has 7-12 teeth on 

 each side confined to the anterior region. 



O 



Vertebrae: C. 7 ; D. 1 1 ; L. 1 1-14 ; C. 27-29 = 58 

 or 59. Six of the ribs are two-headed. Skull raised 

 into a very strong prominence behind blow hole. 

 Pterygoids large and in contact. Pectoral fin long 

 and falcate ; dorsal fin moderately so. The number 

 of phalanges is : 1,3-4. 11,9-14. Ill, 9-11. IV, 2-3. 

 V, i, 2. No beak. Very broad pre-maxillae and 

 rostrum generally. 



The best known and most widely distributed species 

 is Globicephalus melas, Traill.f (Plate XIX.) The 

 colour of the whale is black save for a white area 

 on breast. Teeth, 10. Pterygoids not greatly wider 

 in front than behind. 



This species has an extremely wide range ; it is 

 common in the northern seas, and specimens indis- 

 tinguishable from those of British waters have been 

 received from New Zealand and the Cape.J 



In a specimen at the British Museum without 

 epiphyses there were six cervical vertebrae fused and 

 only one free. In a younger individual only five were 

 fused. This example is one of many which shows 

 how careful it is necessary to be in using the num- 

 ber of vertebrae of the neck which are fused as a 



* The most elaborate memoir upon the structure of Globicephalus is 

 that of MURIE in Trans. Zool. Sac., viii., 1873, p. 235. 



t Nicholson 's Journ., xxii., 1809, p. 81. 



J The Scottish vernacular for this creature, " Caa'ing whale," means 

 Driving whale. One of the vernacular names given by Dr. Gray is 

 " Howling whale." This is clearly a mistranslation of the Scotch ! 



