MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 2(K 



PHYSETERID.5J. 



27. Physeter macrocephalus Pander. Sperm Whale. Oc- 

 casional off the coast; formerly much more frequent. 



28. [Mesoplodon soweibiensis.] To this species Professor Cope 

 refers a specimen found stranded a short time since on Nantucket Island. 

 I learn from Mr. S. C. Martin that it was called " Grampus" by the 

 whalemen, and that its length was sixteen feet and three inches, and 

 girth seven feet. The skull, presented by Mr. Martin to Professor 

 Agossiz, is now in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, and is the 

 specimen referred to by Professor Agassiz at the meeting of the Bos- 

 ton Society of Natural History, held November 6, 18G7. lie remarked 

 that it was a species new to America, and that it belonged to the genus 

 M soplodon, as characterized by Gervais, and ought to be separated 

 from the fossil Xiphius, described by Cuvier.* 



DELPHINID^. 



29. [Orca gladiator Sundeval.] '-Killer. This species visits 

 our bay occasionally in small schools. Their dorsal fin is several feet 

 high when fully grown. They are at times, in summer seen coming 

 into our harbor. The horse-mackerel fears them, and will run in 

 shore when they appear." 



30. [Grlobiocephalns melas Traill. (D. intermedins Harlan 

 and G. intermedins Gray.)] " Blackfish. Common. This well- 

 known species sometimes come into our bay in large schools in sum- 

 mer and autumn. They are then attacked by a number of boats from 

 the shore, and often driven into shoal water or on shore and hundreds 

 killed." 



31. Hyperaodon bideilS Owen. A specimen referred by Pro- 

 fessor Cope to this species came ashore at North Dennis in January, 

 1869 ; its skeleton, secured by Mr. J. II. Blake, is now in the Museum 



* Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. XI, p. 318. 



