10() BALiENOPTERIDJE. 



I have ventured to make these fragments of an animal (as they 

 may be called) into a genus ; for I think we can only study the 

 gigantic whales as we study fossils, from the parts which are pre- 

 served to us. It is to be hoped that at some future time more 

 perfect skeletons will be collected and preserved, and then the 

 description of the genus will be filled up. 



6. PAL^OCETUS. 



Atlas free. The second cervical vertebra with a prominent 

 rounded lateral process with a small basal perforation. The third 



to fifth cervical with . 



Paleocetus, Seelcy, Geo!. Journ. 18G5. 



This genus, in the form of the lateral process of the atlas or second 

 cervical vertebra, has some resemblance to the Finner Whales {Ba- 

 Icenopteridce). It is probable that when it is better known it wiU 

 form a family (Pal reocet idee), to be placed between Bcdcenklce and 

 Balcvnopteridce. — See also Professor Owen, Brit. Foss. Mamm. pp. xv 

 &L 520 ; PalceontoJogy , p. 355. 



1. Palseocetus Sedgwickii. 



Paleocetus Sedgwickii, Scclei/, Gcul. Jown. 18(io, tab. f. 1, 2. 

 Fossil in the Crag. The cervical vertebra, Woodwardian Museum, 

 Cambridge. 



Family 2. BALiENOPTERID^. 



Dorsal fin distinct. Belly longitudinally plaited. Baleen short 

 and broad, triangular, twisted. Maxillary bones broad, expanded, 

 sharp-edged. Tympanic bone oblong or ovate. Frontal bone flat, 

 expanded, broad over the orbit ; orbit large. Pectoral fin lanceolate ; 

 fingers 4. Vertebra? of neck free, or some rarely anchjdosed. Sca- 

 pula broader than high, with or without a coracoid. The lateral 

 process of the axis or second cervical vertebra produced, ring-like, 

 with a basal jjerforation. The ring is not completely ossified until 

 adult age, so that the skeleton sometimes presents two short pro- 

 cesses more or less encircling a basal aperture. 



Baliienoptera, Lncep. Cetac. 



Mysticetiis, Wagler, Si/st. Amph. 



Iiorqualus, F. Cuvier, Cetac. 



Batenid:e (b.), Gray, Cat. Cetac. B. M. 



Finne-tisch, Balpenoptera, Schlegel, Abha)idl. 1841, .38. 



Balreiiopteridaj, Greaj, P. Z. S. 18(j4 ; Ann. ^- 31ag. N. H. 18G4, xiv. 

 " The head less than one-fourth of the total length of the body. 

 A dorsal fin. Skin of the under surface of the thi'oat and chest pro- 

 vided with numerous parallel longitudinal furrows. The bones of 

 the cranium very slightly arched. The rostrum broad at the base, 

 gradually tapering, depressed. The orbital processes of the frontal 

 luoderately prolonged, broad, and flat on llic upper surface. Tym- 

 panic bones elongated, ovoid. The coronoid i)r(Kcss of tlie lower jaw 



