252 A BOOK OP WHALES 



Phoccena dallii, True,^ is thus defined: Length, 

 6 feet. No beak. Dorsal fin high and falcate. 

 Pectorals oval. Body ridged above and below at 

 end. Teeth, 23-27. Vertebrae: C. 7; D. 14, 15; L. 

 27 ; Ca. 49 = 97 or 98. 



The most salient difference of this from P. 

 communis is the extraordinarily long vertebral 

 column formed mainly by the large development of 

 the lumbar region. All the cervicals are united. 



o 



It is a Pacific species. 



The genus NEOMERIS is to be characterised by 

 the absence of a dorsal fin and the number of teeth, 

 18-26. The skull characters are as in Phoccena. 

 Vertebrae D. 13; L. 12; C. 29 = 63. 



This genus has been already referred to on account 

 of the rows of tubercles which stud the back in the 

 place of the absent dorsal fin. It is a genus which is 

 barely to be distinguished from Phoc&na according to 

 most authorities. Of the cervical vertebrae the last five 

 are free. Seven ribs are two-headed. The sternum 

 is short and broad and has four pairs of ribs attached 

 to it. There is but one species, Neomeris phocanoides, 

 Cuvier.] 



It is unnecessary to give a definition of this species, 

 as the principal characters have been already given 

 in the description of the genus. Its colour is entirely 

 black, save for a purplish red patch on the upper 



* Proc. U.S. Nat. Mits., viii., 1885, p. 95. 

 t Rcgne Aniin., 2nd ed., 1829, p. 291. 



