96 BALiENIDiE, 



of the barnacles called Coronula, and that the irregularities on the 

 surface of the bonnet were caused by the attachment and wearing 

 action of these animals. 



This is quite a mistake : the Coromdce sink themselves into the 

 epidermis of the whale, as is also the case with the genus Tuh'mnella. 

 I have seen numerous specimens of both these animals in situ, and 

 the skin roiind the cirripedes is scarcely altered in structure, and 

 offers no resemblance to the horny excrescence called the bonnet. 

 Any one who examines the bonnet will find that the plate of horn 

 of which it is formed is plicated and folded when deposited ; and this 

 explains the irregularity of the general form of the body. 



The zoologist referred to has since said that he behoves it is caused 

 by the irritation of the whale-louse, and that the irregularities on 

 the surface are caused by them. This may perhaps have arisen from 

 the surface of the specimen being covered with whale-hce when it 

 was first procured from the whaler ; but this may be only because 

 the hollow on the surface forms a good hiding for them ; and I think 

 the supposition that they are the origin of the wart or horn requires 

 further observation. 



Mr. Holdsworth has since sent to the Museum a much smaller 

 specimen, also obtained at the Sandwich Islands, which is oblong, 

 elongate, and more symmetrical ; but the upper surface is not so 

 eveiily channelled. It is 6 inches long and 2^ wide. It is spoken 

 of by the whalers as a wart on the tip of the nose, and is commonly 

 called the " Whale's bonnet." 



I do not recollect observing any account of this " honnet," or giant 

 corn, or rudimentary frontal horn, as it may be regarded, in any 

 account of the Eight Whale, nor in that of the Spermaceti Whale. 

 I have specially searched for it again in works by persons who have 

 seen these whales alive, but without success. 



It has been suggested by Mr. Holdsworth that the bonnet may 

 be a natural development, and possibly characteristic of the species ; 

 he thinks that the "pale prominence" on the nose oi Balcenct ant- 

 arctica, as figured in ' Fauna Japonica,' pis. 28 & 29, may be intended 

 to represent it. In the description this part is only described as 

 " une forte preeminence teinte de blanc." 



In the excellent drawing of the male whale from the coast of 

 New Zealand, which I figured iinder the name of Balama antipo- 

 danim, in Dieffenbach's ' New Zealand,' vol. ii. 1. 1, there is a rough 

 roundish prominence on the front of the lower jaw, as well as on the 

 front of the upper one. 



I behove that a prominence of the kind is to be observed in all 

 the species of the genus Balama, although I have nevei^seen them 

 described as hard and horny ; but that is no reason v^ this may 

 not be the case. — Gray, Proc. Zool. >Soc. 1864. 



2. Eubalaena Sieboldii. The Japan Whale. 



Black ; the middle of the belly to the vent, and a spot on the chin 

 and over the eye, white ; the nose with a rounded prominence in 



