14 STUDIES OF TASMANIAN CETACEA, 



As the sex characters of all whales need working out, 

 these specimens will supply data of extreme interest, and 

 it is felt that the comparative tables given in the following 

 pages will prove useful to students of the Cefacea in the 

 future. 



It is of interest to note that the immature characters 

 are v/ell marked off from the mature. Of this characteris- 

 tic little or nothing has previously been published as far 

 as we are aware. 



In the past whales belonging to the genus Glohi- 

 fy/)JiaIu!i have been confused with specimens of Pseudorca. 

 When they are compared casually this is not to^ be wonder- 

 ed at. Their similar size, colour, and general external ap- 

 jDearance all lend their aid to the confusion which has 

 undoubtedly existed. Even Ziphoid v>diales have at times 

 been incorporated. 



While the examination of the 2>resent series will, it 

 is confidently hoped, prove of value, it is to be regretted 

 that there are certain missing links. For the last fifty 

 years apparently these valuable specimens have been stow- 

 e:l away. From time to time there have been alterations 

 ia the stores, and there is evidence which goes to show 

 that a number of the missing parts relating to these skele- 

 tons were evidently stored separately, and were disposed of 

 some years ago as useless odd examples. This is greatly to 

 be regretted, but sufficient remains, especially in the case 

 of this species, to allow an exaniination of its chief charac- 

 teristics, both as regards sex and age. 



Globicephalus melas. (Plate IX.) 

 As (j'lohirejjhalus skulls have been confounded with 

 those of the Pxeudorrn, it is important that their compara- 

 tive osteologv sho'uld be made cleai\ The palatine charac- 

 ter given under the heading of Orca, in this paper, will 

 always serve to separate the skulls unless extreme mutila- 

 tion (as in the case of a fossil specimen) makes it impos- 

 sible to apply this test. — under such extreme circvimstances 

 the following data may be consulted. 



r'o IV jiara five Gli a r act cm . 



(1) In GI()hice})h<i]u>^ the maxillary wings practically 

 cover the frontal upon all its faces, except at the vertex, 

 where a narrow strip is left exposed. 



(2) In Pseudorca the frontal is well exposed all round, 

 namely, for anything from half to three-quarters, of an 

 inch, the greater amount being at the vertex, and tn© 

 lesser along the orbit and fossa temporalis. 



(3) In GIohiccpJwIuR the pre-frontal moieties are 



