210 Records of the S.A. Museum 



ent. The colonr, after the results of partial decomposition, was black above and 

 soniewliat lio'hter below, l)iit in its then condition it supplied no indication of the 

 markings of the species, as previously deseril)ed and figured l)y me. (-) The 

 two mandibular teeth did not seem to lun-e ei'upled the oums, and wei-e not found 

 until ^searched for by cutting into the flesh, rnsuccessful search was made for 

 the smaller teeth found embedded in the gums of some of the Ziphioid whales. 

 During an adjournment made ^vhile securing the skeleton, the carcase was visited 

 by gidls and portions of flesh carried otf : pelvic bones, if present, were probably 

 lost by such means, as no trace of them could be found ; the suborbitals had also 

 disappeared. The otherwise complete skeleton was taken to Adelaide and 

 mounted by the Museum taxidermists, Messrs. (). and J. Ran. 1 am iiulebted to 

 Mr. H. M. Hale for the photographs accom])anying the paper. 



The folloAving measurements were made as the animal lay on the beach: 



ft. in. mm. 



Total length to middle of tail flukes .... 15 3 4648 



Tip of snout to eye 2 3 686 



Tip of mandible to vent 10 2 3099 



Tip of snout to origin of dorsal flu 9 6 2895 



Width of tail flukes 3 2 965 



The specimen was a male, and, as afterwards transpired, a relatively young 

 example, a fact supported by the following observations : 



The small size, 15 ft. 3 in., as against 19 ft. 2 in., the maximum recorded. 



The general soft condition of the ])ones, which necessitated careful 

 maceration. 



The open sutures and unattached epiphysises of the bones, especially of the 

 vertebrae. 



The imperfectly developed teeth, and the absence of a bony mesorostral ; a 

 basal soft bony mesethmoid being, however, evident. 



Skull. The skull is generally symmetrically formed, the anterior narial 

 portion alone being twisted toAvards the left side. The lateral groove at the basal 

 portion of the rostral, generally described as only slightly developed in the 

 species, is quite a feature in this young example, but possibly becomes less 

 pronounced as development proceeds; the posterior pit in which the groove 

 terminates is sliallow. The foramina for the exit of the branches of the 5th 

 nerve lie jn the same transverse line. Other characters of the skull may be 

 ascertained from the accompanying photographs and following table of 

 dimensions, made in accordance with Flower's measurements {^) -. 



(2) Waite, Epc. Cant. Mas., i, 1912, ji. 326, pi. Ixii. 



(3) Flower, Trai'.s. Zool. Sot-., x, 187it, p. 424. 



