136 BULLETIN 36, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Glohicephalns proirinqmis Malm. 



This species was founded on a fcetiis 315""" long, which had been in 

 alcohol twenty-one years at the time it was described by Malm.* That 

 writer states that it is distinguished from G. nielas by the possession of 

 a slightly greater number of vertebra' and i)halanges. The nundxT 

 given in each case, however, is within the limit of variation of G. melas, 

 and no importance, therefore, attaches to these supposed characters. 



Furthermore, the present writer is of the opinion that the classifier 

 is under no obligation to seriously consider species founded upon f(jetal 

 specimens. 



The remarks of Commander Natt och Dag upon the adult from which 

 the fcetus in question was taken are based merely on his remembrance 

 of the appearance of the specimen and are of no value in identifying 

 the species. 



Table of measurements. 

 GLOBICEPIIALUS MELAS. 



K. Svenska Vcteus. Akad. Haudl., ny foljd, ix, i, 1871, Art. 2, p. 85. 



