KNOX ON THE CETACEA. « 67 



habitants. On dissection we found 81 vertebrsB, exclusive of the 

 cephalic. The species must be quite distinct from those pre- 

 viously and subsequently examined by myself and many others, 

 in which the number of vertebrae ranged from 61 to 66. It 

 is also, I think, distinct from the specimen I saw in Dr. R. 

 Hunter's Museum in Glasgow, in which the number of vertebrae 

 was 90, exclusive of the cephalic in all the cases. Thus it stands 

 with regard to the Cetacea called Porpoises and Dolphins. 



In certain species of Delphinus the vertical column is com- 

 posed of 61 vertebrae, in others of 65, in others of 66, in others of 

 81, in others of 90. 



The specimen I now describe was, no doubt, that of a young 

 anin^al ; and the skeleton was prepared, consequ(mtly, as a natural 

 one. This method has the advantage of security against the loss 

 of any important osseous structures, which too frequently happens 

 when the bones require to be macerated. The bones con- 

 tained little oil, and weighed, head included, only ^\ lbs. ; the 

 whole animal, when entire, weighed 14 stone, or 196 lbs. ; the 

 skeleton therefore was about a twenty-fourth part of the whole 

 weight. It was a fetnale. The external nostrils terminated in a 

 single orifice of a semilunar shape, with the concavity turned 

 towards the snout. Measurements of young animals have not the 

 importance of those of the adult ; but I give them here because I 

 think that the specimen, although young, had nearly attained its 

 full growth : — 



ft. in. 



Total length over the dorsum 6 5f 



„ „ lateral surface 6 llf 



„ „ abdominal surface 6 llf 



From the snout to the nostrils 11-| 



From the nostrils to the dorsal fin 1 6-| 



Base of the dorsal fin ; Oil 



Erom dorsal fin to foot of tail 3 Of 



Breadth of pectoral limb 4-| 



From the snout to the organs of generation . . 3 9f 



Circumference anterior to the arm 2 9 



„ „ dorsal fin 3 2-| 



„ posterior to dorsal fin 2 10 



„ at setting on of the tail 8-| 



Length of pectoral limb 10 



Breadth of tail . . . . " 1 2 



Greatest height of the dorsal fin : . . 9 



