SPERM WHALES 187 



The skull is short, and has not the prolonged 

 anterior portion so characteristic of the Sperm whale. 

 It is, however, very asymmetrical. The pre-maxillary 

 bones are shorter than in Physeter, and diverge an- 

 teriorly on account of the vomer. The lacrymal bone 

 is not in contact with the squamosal ; indeed, a very 

 considerable gap is left between the two. 



The cervical vertebrae are all ankylosed together. 

 The ribs vary in number, between 12 and 14. The 

 sternum is in three pieces, and at any rate four ribs 

 are attached to it. The scapula has not the concave 

 outer face that it has in Physeter. The vertebrae are 

 rather more numerous, but not much more so. The 

 phalanges also are more numerous than are those of 

 the manus of Physeter. 



The above are the principal generic characters of 

 Kogia, and they are clearly sufficient to distinguish 

 it generically from Physeter. But the question of 

 species is not so easy a one to decide, in view of 

 the small amount of material that can be and has 

 been examined. The greatest possible number is six, 

 which adding the recently described Kogia pottsi to 

 those enumerated by Gill are K. breviceps, K. grayi, 

 K. macleayi, K. floweri, K. simus. The latter is 

 elevated by Gill into a distinct genus, Callignathus, 

 on account of the form of the lower jaw mainly, and 

 the presence of two teeth in the upper jaw in addi- 

 tion to the series in the lower jaw. I believe that 

 this is a distinct specific form from the others, but 

 see no advantage in retaining generic rank for it. 

 The whales of this genus are found all over the 



