BENEUEMA. 



136 



are brief, and limited to certain parts of the organization, I may be 

 permitted perhaps to give more detailed characters taken from the 

 skeleton generallj', which will, I think, fully confirm his views as far 

 as these genera are concerned. Into those characters, taken from the 

 external form, position of dorsal fin, or from the visceral anatomy, it is 

 not my purpose to enter at present." — Flower, P. Z. S. 1864, 391. 



A. Vertehrce 60 to 64. Thejirst rib single-headed. 



4. BENEDENIA. 



The maxilla gradually and regularly tapering in front, with a 

 straight outer edge. Second cervical vertebra with two short trun- 

 cated lateral processes ; first rib simple-headed, with a compressed 

 internal process. Neural arch of cervical vertebrae oblong, trans- 

 verse, broad and low, not more than two-thirds the width of the 

 body of the vertebrfe ; coracoid process distinct, high behind. 



Pliysalus, § Rorqualus, Gray, Cat. Cet. 



Benedenia, Grarj, P. Z. S. 18G4, 211 ; Ami. S/- Mag. N. H. 1864, xiv. 351. 



Pectoral fins moderate ; dorsal fin falcate. Skull rather broad ; 

 maxillae broad, with nearly straight outer margins. The second 

 cervical vertebra with two separate, broad, strong, nearly equal- 

 sized lateral processes, which are rather expanded and truncated at 

 the tip (as in Megnptera). The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cervical 

 vertebrae with elongated slender upper and lower lateral processes, 

 which are attenuated and separated at the end (not forming rings). 

 The bodies of the cervical vertebrae oblong, transverse ; the canal of 

 the neural arch low, oblong, transverse, much ^vider than high. The 

 scapula short, broad, with a strong, well-marked coracoid process. 



Vertebrae 60. Ribs 15, all simple ; the front ones compressed 

 and dilated at the end ; the first with a bi'oad rounded lobe on the 

 inner side ; the second with an elongate, slender, rounded intenial 

 process. 



Fisr. 23. 



Benedenia. Brit. Mus. 



This genus is only described from the skeleton of a young speci- 

 men ; it combines the characters of Mecjaptera and P'hysalus. Its 

 second cervical vertebra has the form of that of Mcgaptera ; and it 

 has the low neural arch and the oblong transverse canal for the 

 spinal marrow, the blade-bone with the strong anterior process, the 

 same kind of front ribs, and the short pectoral fins of the genus 

 Physalus. 



