BY H. H. SCOTT AND CLIVE E. LORD. gf) 



exactly establish the exact generic and specific characters 

 of the ziphoid whales in general. It mav be taken for 

 granted, however, that representatives of such genera as 

 ZiphiiiM, N t//trri)(ifl<tii , M exophidan, and litrnrtl iux visit 

 Tasmanian seas, but probably only at rare intervals. 

 Owing to the nigged nature of our coasts and the failure 

 to report stranded whales to the proper authorities, it is 

 only on very rare occasions that specimens are obtained 

 for scientific investigation. 



HISTORY OF THE TASMAXIAN MUSEUM SPECI- 

 MEN OF zwnirs caviuostius. (Tas. mus. 



REG. NO. D 589.) 



When the revision of tlie basement stores of the 

 Museum took place (previously alluded to in Part I. of 

 this series) this skull wa.s brought to liglit. At a later 

 stage the mandible also was found. Fortunately, the re- 

 cords relating to the specimens coiild be traced, and the 

 following facts show the locality and datt whence the skuil 

 was obtained. 



The Museum records show that this skull (classified as 

 ?Jj)lo(/on rlKitJifinirnsIs) was presented bv J. Boyd, Esq., in 

 1868. It was obtained at Port Arthur (on the South- 

 East Coast of Tasmania). Apparently the specimen has 

 been stored away for fifty years, and the knowledge of 

 this species' occurrence in Australian seas withheld from 

 the scientific world for a corresponding period. 



OSTEOLOGY. 



Before attempting to discu-s the osteology of this speci- 

 men, it is nece-sai-y to noint out a homclogical error that 

 the late Sir Julias Von Haast fell into, in his paper on 

 Epinihtii y(iv(v-Zt(tl(tii(lia' '"', which is a svnonvm of 

 Zi/)/iliis nirirnsfris, as already ]>ointed out. This pub- 

 lished statement of Von Haast s has been copied by other 

 authors, without question, and, therefore, it is nece'sary 

 to correct it, the more so as he cited Prof. Owen as his 

 authoritv, while Owen's writings do not substantiate, and, 



(7ii) Trins N Z Institute, Vol. ',). ).. i'O. 



{"b) In connection with the New Ze;il:infl specimen of Ziphiiin 

 rariroslris in the C;inteihuiy Museum, we desire to express our thanki 

 to Mr. K. Spei'4:ht, the Curator of th.it Insiimtion- In order to assist 

 us with the conip irative osteology, Mr Spei;,'ht had severil excellent 

 photographs taken for our benefit These weie of material assistance 

 to us, and we, therefore, have pleasure in placing' on record our appre- 

 ciation o: Mr. Speight's action in this matter. 



