5. puvsAi.us. 143 



British species is Mr. F. J. Knox, who took some pains to examine 

 these animals and their anatomy. 



For the purpose of convenient comparison the bones of these large 

 animals (indeed of all animals) are best kept separate. I believe 

 that it is having them separate that has enabled me to determine 

 some of the species here mentioned which had before been overlooked, 

 — a single specimen of each family or genus being mounted to show 

 the general form of the animal and the position the bones naturally 

 bear to each other. 



Ray calls these whales Balcrna tripennis, thus separating them 

 from those which have no dorsal fin ; but Polach misunderstood him, 

 and says they have three fins on their back. 



Mr. F. J. Knox, having purchased a whale 84 feet long, which 

 was stranded near North Berwick on the 5th of October, 1831, and 

 another 10 feet long, taken in the stake nets at Queensferr)^ Firth 

 of Forth, in February 1834, determined by anatomical differences 

 that they were distinct species, in a ' Catalogue of Anatomical Pre- 

 parations illustrative of the TVTiale,' by F. J. Knox, Conservator of 

 the Museum in Old vSurgeons' Hall, 8vo, Edinburgh, 1838. He dis- 

 tinguished the former by the name of BaJcena maximus horectlis, and 

 the latter as Balcena minimus horealis. As no description of the 

 coloui- of the animal, or any account of the nuchal vertebrae, is given, 

 it is impossible, from his account, to determine the species of the 

 former ; but the catalogue contains some most interesting particulars 

 relative to the anatomy of these animals. 



Fortunately the skeleton of the larger whale was purchased by 

 the Town Council of Edinburgh, and was exhibited in the Zoological 

 Gardens of that city. As far as it was possible to examine it at the 

 height at which it was suspended, it appeared to be a Phi/scdus ; and 

 the same as, or very nearly allied to, the species described in this 

 Catalogue under the name of P. antiquorum. This skeleton was last 

 year moved to tlie New Museum, but the walls would not support 

 the weight, and they have to be rebuilt. The B. miuimus horealis 

 appears to be a young specimen of the B. rost)-ata or Pike Whale of 

 Hunter. Mr. F. J. Knox's drawing of this specimen, as suspended, 

 in the act of swimming, is represented in Jardine's ' Naturalist's 

 Library.' 



This was the first time that the Northern Fiiwers had been sepa- 

 rated on an actual examination and comparison of specimens. I5ut 

 the pamphlet in which these observations were published being a 

 mere guide to the exhibition, has been overlooked, and I could only 

 procure a copy after great trouble, and from the family of the 

 author. 



