Catodon. MAMMALIA. CETACEA- 89 



the lower jaw were 42 teeth, 21 on each side (Fabricius states the number as 

 1 1 on each side), curved, and ending in an acute point, the largest of which 

 were 9 inches long, and the least 7 inches. These projected 3 inches above 

 the gums, and contained a large cavity at the root. Swimmers 4 feet long. 

 The tail was 9 feet broad. Mr Low states, that this species frequently comes 

 ashore in Orkney. One was caught at Hoy 50 feet long. 



Gen. XXXVII. CATODON, (Artedi). Cachalot.— Back 

 destitute of an elevated fin. 



59- C macroceplialus Snout truncated. Teeth conical. 



Balaena macrocephala que binas tantum pinnas laterales habet, Sibb* 



Phal. 30 Catodon fistula in cervice, Arledi, Gen. p. 79. — Phys. mac. 



Linn. Syst. i. p. 107 Fab. Faun. Groen. p. 41 Blunt-headed Cacha- 

 lot, Robertson, Phil. Trans. 1770, p. 321. tab. ix — Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 

 p. 61. tab. vi. a bad figure.— In the Scottish sea, rare. 



An individual of this species ran ashore upon Cramond Island in the Forth, 

 December 22. 1769, which Mr Robertson has described. Its length was 54 

 feet, and its greatest circumference, behind the eyes, 30. The head occupied 

 nearly one-half of the whole animal. A protuberance on the back, opposite the 

 penis. The tail was 14 feet broad. Lower jaw 11 feet long, with 23 teeth on 

 each side, each 2 inches long, and all pointing a little outwards. Upper jaw 

 projecting 5 feet over the lower, with a cavity for the reception of the lower 

 jaw, blunt, 9 feet high, and the blow-hole was seated at the dorso-anteal ex- 

 tremity. Swimmers 5 feet behind the corners of the mouth, 3 feet long and 

 \\ broad. From the corner of the mouth to the penis 19 feet, to the anus 

 24, and to the tail 38. Cavity of the head filled with spermaceti along with 

 the brain. Fabricius states that the teeth are conical, 40 to 46 in number, 

 and that between the pits in the upper jaw the rudiments of teeth exist, 

 much bent, lying horizontally, the apex only, oblique polished, appearing 

 above the skin. Ribs 10 on each side. According to Schwediawer (Phil. 

 Trans. 1783, p. 241.), the blow-hole bends obliquely on the left. 



60. C. Sibbaldi. — Teeth with truncated summits. 



De Balsenis minoribus in inferiore maxilla tantum dentatis, sine pinna 

 aut spina in dorso, Sibb. Phal. p. 24 — Catodon fistula in rostro, Art. 

 Gen. p. 78 Phys. Catodon, Linn. Syst. i. p. 107- Orkney, rare. 



A herd of this species, upwards of 100 in number, are stated by Sibbald to 

 have been found at Kairston, Orkney, the individuals of which were from 2 

 to 24 feet in length. Head round ; gape small ; and the teeth about half an 

 inch above the gums. " In rostro nares habebant," " et asperitatem quandam 

 in dorso." The claims of this species, to rank as distinct from the preceding, 

 chiefly rest on the truncated teeth. 



Documents are wanting to enable us to determine the influence of society 

 on the geographical distribution of British whales, though it has probably 

 been considerable. To some physiological revolutions they seem to have 

 been exposed, as three examples of their bones have occurred in marine diluvi- 

 um, in peculiar situations, but the species to which they belong cannot as yet 

 be determined. The first occurred at Airthrey, on the Forth, near Alloa. 

 The bones belonged to an animal about 72 feet long, and were imbedded in 

 clay 20 feet higher than the surface of the highest tide of the River Forth at, 

 the present day ; " Mr Bald on the Skeleton of a Whale," Edin. Phil. Jour, 

 vol. i. p. 393. The second consisted of one vertebra found 12 feet above the 

 level of the sea in StrathpefFer, Ross-shire, and described by Sir George Mac 



