TWO CETACEANS FROM TRAVANCORE. 39 



ting up the skin instead of using the skull. Subsequent examination 

 of the skeleton brought out the following points : — 



Vertebral column. — Cervical vertebrae 7. Dorsal 10. Lumbar 10. 

 Caudal 20.— Total 47. The first four cervieals fused together. Epi- 

 physes fused with the centra. 



Ribs 10. Sternal G. Costal 4. All ossified, the first 6 ribs two- 

 headed. 



The sternum composed of an ossified presternum and two mesosterna, 

 with a cartilaginous xiphisternum. 



The scapula fan-shaped with the external surface concave. 

 Phalanges I 1, II 2, III 5, IV 7, V 1. 

 Skull length 1ft. 10in., breadth between the orbits 1ft. 2in. 

 Teeth T ° T stout, 2in. in length and from \ to fin. in diameter. 

 Ramis of mandible 21in., symphysis 3fin. 

 Pterygoids divergent posteriorly. 



The anterior portion of the premaxilla broader than that of the 

 maxilla. 



Length of rostrum taken from an imaginary line joining the angles 

 of the mouth 1ft. 2iD. 



From the size of the teeth it is evident that the animal is a " Killer " 

 or tl Grampus." The only genus mentioned by Blanford is Orca and 

 the only species 0. gladiator. It differs from this in colour, in having 

 the dorsal fiu of moderate size and falcate, the pectoral fins also of 

 moderate size and falcate in the number of vertebras, and the number 

 of ribs. It approaches more nearly to the genus Pseudorca, a meagre 

 description of which is given by Beddard in his Book of Whales, but 

 differs in the number of vertebrae (not an important point however) and 

 in the divergence of the pterygoids. 



Curiously enough on the same day the fishermen brought me 

 another cetacean, which they had that morning caught in their nets. 

 Its description is as follows : — 



Colour uniform shining black, passing gradually into a fleshy plum- 

 heous tinge on the sides and under surface. Pectoral, dorsal and caudal 

 fins present. Beak distinct. Lower jaw slightly longer than the upper. 

 Length from tip of snout to notch in centre of 



caudal fin ... 8ft. lin. 

 Do. do. to origin of pectoral fin ... 1ft. lin. 



Do. do. to origin of dorsal fin ... 3ft. 8in. 



