ZOOLOGY. — BAD^NA ROSTRATA. 485 



to the body, that it would appear to belong either 

 to the Balaena Boops, or to an undescribed species. 

 From the inaccuracy of the sketches of almost all 

 the whales hitherto figured, the naturalist is rather 

 plagued than assisted by them. As such, the figures 

 given by La Cepede and others, can scarcely be of 

 any service in determining the species of this whale. 



BALiENOPTERA Acuto-Tostratay (La Cepede). — Balcena 

 rostrata of Linne, or Beaked Whale. 



This is the last and the smallest of the whale- 

 bone whales with which I am acquainted. In Plate 

 13, fig. 2. is an accurate representation of this ani- 

 mal, taken from an original drawing, accompanied 

 by actual measurements, by the late James Wat- 

 son, Esq. of Orkney, for the use of which I am in- 

 debted to the kindness of my friend Dr Traill of 

 Liverpool. The animal from which this drawing was 

 taken, was killed in Scalpa Bay, Nov. 14. 1808. Its 

 length was 171 feet ; circumference 20. Length from 

 the snout to the dorsal fin 12 3 feet; from the snout 

 to the pectoral fins 5 feet ; from the snout to the eye 

 3g feet; and from the snout to the blow-holes 3 

 feet. Pectoral fins 2 feet long and 7 inches broad ; 

 dorsal fin 15 inches long by 9 inches high ; tail 

 15 inches long by 4? feet broad. Largest whale- 

 bone about 6 inches. Colour of the back black ; 



