REPORT ON THE CETACEA. 43 



cetaceans, for a more complete examination of the fauna of the South Pacific Ocean may 

 perhaps supply us with their existing representatives. For this reason, as well as from 

 the fact that a complete collection of the ear-bones of known cetacea does not exist in the 

 museums to which I have had access, so that our acquaintance with the configuration of 

 these bones in already recognised species is still imperfect, I have thought it advisable 

 not to erect those, which I was unable to determine, into new species, but merely to point 

 out their characters, and to defer an expression of opinion on their systematic classifica- 

 tion until the possession of more amjile means of comparison places at our' disposal the 

 data which may be requisite. 



